Tarata
Dates: 1897-1938
Location: 2125 Tarata Road, Tarata, Taranaki (-39.133951, 174.389871)
Registration No: 631
Brand names: TARATA
The Tarata Co-operative Dairy Company Limited was incorporated on 13 July 1897 with capital of £1,000 and with Messrs FW Court, R Baxter, A Neilson, W Purdon, R Paterson, WJ Laurent and JH Horne as the first directors. Mr A Perry was appointed as company secretary.
1929 factory location
The butter factory opened in late 1897 and in 1901, a branch creamery was opened in Purangi after the settlers in that area guaranteed milk from at least 300 cows. This creamery continued until at least the end of the 1908-1909 season.
1897 factory
The number of suppliers varied. In 1906, there were 36 suppliers, dropping to 17 in 1910 and peeking at 74 in 1933. Prices for butter-fat also fluctuated and in 1914, a deputation from the Tarata company approached the Moa company in Inglewood with a view to amalgamation. At the time, the Moa company was paying one penny per pound more for butter-fat than Tarata. Evidently, the proposal was rejected at a subsequent full meeting of Tarata shareholders.
In 1917, a comprehensive water power schedule was installed by the construction of a reinforced concrete dam in the Taramoukou stream.
The original wooden 1897 factory was replaced by a concrete factory which opened on 4 September 1930. While the factory was being replaced, butter production shifted to the Maketawa factory.
New factory opening - 1930
The company only lasted another eight years before going into voluntary liquidation in 1938 due to an increasing amount of production going to the Moa company in Inglewood.
1897 factory before demolition
Factory aerial view 2026
