The total number of sheep was 23.6 million at June 2024, a fall of 6.2 million (21 percent) compared with 10 years ago, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
The total number of dairy cattle also fell by 861,000 (13 percent) over this period to 5.8 million.
"Bucking the trend of falling livestock, however, is beef cattle. There were 3.7 million beef cattle in 2024, similar to the total in 2014," agricultural statistics spokesperson Tehseen Islam said.
Deer had the highest percentage fall of all livestock types, down 26 percent in the 10-year period. Numbers are down by 250,000 since 2014, bringing the total to 709,000 deer.
The total area in grassland (excluding tussock) across Aotearoa New Zealand is at 7.1 million hectares at June 2024, after falling by 809,000 hectares or 10 percent in the last 10 years.
"This drop in grassland coincides with large decreases in livestock being farmed on that land," Islam said.
| At 30 June | Total dairy cattle | Total beef cattle |
| 2002 | 5162000 | 4491000 |
| 2003 | 5102000 | 4627000 |
| 2004 | 5152000 | 4447000 |
| 2005 | 5087000 | 4424000 |
| 2006 | 5170000 | 4439000 |
| 2007 | 5261000 | 4394000 |
| 2008 | 5578000 | 4137000 |
| 2009 | 5861000 | 4101000 |
| 2010 | 5915000 | 3949000 |
| 2011 | 6175000 | 3846000 |
| 2012 | 6446000 | 3734000 |
| 2013 | 6484000 | 3699000 |
| 2014 | 6698000 | 3670000 |
| 2015 | 6486000 | 3547000 |
| 2016 | 6619000 | 3533000 |
| 2017 | 6530000 | 3616000 |
| 2018 | 6386000 | 3721000 |
| 2019 | 6261000 | 3890000 |
| 2020 | 6200000 | 3883000 |
| 2021 | 6185000 | 3965000 |
| 2022 | 5930000 | 3821000 |
| 2023 | 5885000 | 3654000 |
| 2024 | 5837000 | 3679000 |
Large increase in kiwifruit planted area over the last 10 years
The planted area in kiwifruit was 14,500 hectares, an increase of 32 percent (3,500 hectares) compared with 2014. Of this area, 57 percent was planted in the gold kiwifruit variety, 38 percent in green kiwifruit, and 5 percent in other kiwifruit varieties.
The region with the largest planted area of kiwifruit was Bay of Plenty, with 10,900 hectares.
The main export destination for kiwifruit has been China, accounting for 27 percent of the total value of kiwifruit exports.
| June Year | Green kiwifruit | Gold kiwifruit | Other kiwifruit |
| 2007 | 10500 | 2300 | 300 |
| 2009 | 10500 | 2500 | 300 |
| 2011 | 10000 | 2900 | 200 |
| 2012 | 9500 | 3100 | 200 |
| 2014 | 7000 | 3700 | 300 |
| 2017 | 6800 | 4800 | 200 |
| 2019 | 7800 | 7000 | 200 |
| 2020 | 7500 | 7800 | 300 |
| 2022 | 6500 | 7800 | 400 |
| 2024 | 5600 | 8200 | 700 |
The total planted area in wine grapes was 37,600 hectares at June 2024, an increase of 11 percent (3,900 hectares) compared with 2014.
"Wine grapes have continued to have the largest planted area of any crop and are predominantly grown in Marlborough (26,200 hectares)," Islam said.
The United States has been the largest export destination for wine since 2014.
The total planted area in apples was 9,500 hectares at June 2024, an increase of 1,100 hectares (13 percent) compared with 2014. The largest regions for apples were Hawke's Bay with 5,600 hectares, and Tasman with 2,200 hectares.
China was the largest export destination for apples.
New Zealand top export destinations
New Zealand exported $74.1 billion worth of merchandise goods to the rest of the world in the year ended March 2025. The top three destinations were China (25 percent), the US (13 percent), and Australia (12 percent).
Agriculture continues to be a mainstay of New Zealand's export industry. Of New Zealand's total $74 billion exports for the year to 31 March 2025, the top four export products by value were:
- milk powder, butter, and cheese at 29 percent ($21.8 billion)
- meat and edible offal at 12 percent ($9.2 billion)
- fruit at 7 percent ($5.1 billion)
- logs, wood, and wood articles at 6 percent ($4.8 billion).
See Overseas merchandise trade: March 2025 for the latest trade statistics.
