Our Company
Over 110 years of dairy innovation
and co-operative spirit is at the heart
of everything we do.
We add value through partnership and
collaboration, combining world class
dedication, with world leading
capability and technology.
Our Purpose
A tatua is a strong, durable, woven flax belt that was worn by a Maori chief or warrior to carry their most prized possessions and tools. For us it symbolises knowledge, skills, connectedness, strength and the protection of all that is good.
Traditionally handed down from one generation to the next, the tatua represents the protection and advancement of both current and future generations.
Photo credit: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Reg. No: ME013966.
From New Zealand to the world
We proudly export premium New Zealand produce. With 90% of our products destined for export, we deliver effective solutions for international customers.
We have strong market access with three offices located in Japan, China, and the USA, and many distribution partners worldwide.
Tatua was the first in New Zealand to receive the NZ Customs Secure Export Schemes (SES) certification for air freight and is an approved SES partner for both sea and air freight. This ensures reliable, safe delivery and minimises customs delays.
We continually work to improve our order-to-delivery process for seamless product delivery.
Tatua 360
Our comprehensive on farm responsible farming programme Tatua 360 ensures our farmers’ long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable farming practises for future generations of Tatua.
Tatua 360 focusses on holistic, end-to-end practice, that is under continuous improvement year on year. It represents quality assurance and captures the idea of total, continuous, interconnected practice with our fully linked supply chain allowing for a direct line of sight from the farm to factory to customer.
Core elements of the programme include environmental custodianship, animal care, farm systems, milk quality and central to the programme is the welfare, wellbeing and development of our people.
To our global customers, Tatua 360 is an assurance of our continued focus on manufacturing consistent, safe, high quality ingredients and dairy foods.
Our Quality
Our leading-edge quality management and food safety systems ensure we produce high quality and safe products that meet the standards required by our global customers. Tatua consistently meets the highest audit requirements.
- New Zealand Animal Products Act 1999
- New Zealand Food Act 2014
- ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
- FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification
- Regular global customer audit requirements
- New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) registered Risk Management Programme
- NZ MPI registered Dairy Exporter
- NZ MPI approved Food Control Plan
- AsureQuality HACCP Certification for Animal Products
- AsureQuality approved HACCP programme for Non-Animal Food Products
- NZ Customs Service Approved Secure Export Scheme Partner
- NZ MPI recognised Laboratory (ISO 17025)
- China and Eurasian Economic Union Approved Manufacturing Premises
Our Heritage
16 June: Seven directors sign memorandum of association to establish Tatua.
24 September: First ten suppliers deliver milk to the factory.
Factory size triples - now 30 shareholders.
First takeover offer made to buy Tatua.
Advance payout to suppliers sets a NZ record.
1922
Electricity installed in the factory.
Motor-trucks replace horse and cart to transport milk.
NZ dairy co-operatives reach 400.
New boiler and three roller dryers installed to dry milk powder.
Milk collection by tankers begins.
Edible casein plant opens.
Coulter spray dryer installed.
Tatua dries first whey protein.
Dairy Whip aerosol cream launched.
Caseinates developed for export customers.
Launch of the Tatua Foods Division.
Lactoferrin developed, manufacturing begins.
Niro dryer installed.
ISO 9001 quality certification received.
WPC (Whey Protein Concentrate) plant installed.
Twelve dairy co-operatives remain in NZ.
Four dairy co-operatives remain in NZ.
Deregulation of the NZ dairy industry - the two largest co-operatives merged with the NZ Dairy Board to form Fonterra. Tatua shareholders voted to remain an independent co-operative.
Tatua's Flavours business launched.
Tatua Japan established and Bionutrients business launched.
AMF (Anhydrous Milk Fat) plant installed.
First dairy company in NZ to achieve FSSC 22000 food safety and quality certification
New foods plant opens
Tatua USA and Tatua Shanghai established.
Dryer 3 opens.
New foods Ecolean packaging plant installed.
New engineering workshop completed.
Wastewater treatment plant commissioned.
Our News
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