New Zealand Cheese Month is a nationwide celebration of New Zealand's extraordinary artisan cheese culture, held every October to showcase the growing range of world-class cheeses being produced by makers across Aotearoa. From boutique farmhouse cheesemakers in the Waikato and Marlborough to urban artisan producers in Auckland and Wellington, it celebrates the skill, creativity and quality that has made New Zealand cheese increasingly respected on the world stage.
New Zealand's clean pastures, high-quality milk and growing community of passionate cheesemakers have combined to create a cheese culture that has come a long way in a short time. During Cheese Month, cheese lovers across the country can discover new producers, attend tastings and events, and engage with the stories behind the cheeses they eat — the farms, the animals, the cultures and the craft that goes into every wheel and block.
For food lovers, NZ Cheese Month is an invitation to go beyond the familiar and explore the full range of what New Zealand's cheesemakers are producing. Paired with local wine, craft beer or simply good bread, New Zealand cheese represents one of the finest expressions of this country's food culture — and October is the perfect time to celebrate it.