Under the watchful eye of Master Cheesemaker Cathy Lang (“the big cheese”), the Co-op’s Eltham site has consistently produced award winning cheeses including Kāpiti and Mainland – enjoyed by Kiwis and around the world.
“It’s a science and a craft. You’re relying on bacteria and enzymes to do their thing with the milk but it’s also a craft that has been going for thousands of years. It’s all part of a natural process,” Cathy says.
Having fresh milk available for cheesemakers is vital. Up to 60,000 litres is delivered daily to the Eltham site. “The milk is coming from less than 30 minutes away. The tanker will stop at various farms along the way and deliver us fresh milk, which is amazing. As a cheesemaker what you want is fresh milk produced by pasture-fed cows. Taranaki has such rich pasture,” she says.
For the past 21 years New Zealand has celebrated its prowess at making quality cheese with the New Zealand Cheese Awards – timed to coincide with International Cheese Day in April. This year, the Co-op was triumphant, winning 52 awards including 21 for our premium Kāpiti range.
For the fourth time in five years, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue won gold in the Blue Cheese category, making it the most awarded cheese in New Zealand. It has also been judged second best in the world.
The Co-op’s Mainland range won gold for its new Special Reserve Chilli and Garlic Brie launched late last year, while NZMP won six gold and Anchor rounded out the golden tally with two medals.
“These wins cement Fonterra’s position as the leading player in cheesemaking in New Zealand,” Marketing and Innovation Director for Fonterra Brands New Zealand Renée Milkop Kerr says.
Fonterra’s Lichfield, Hautapu, Stirling and Whareroa sites also took away awards for their cheeses. Cathy Lang has been nominated for the 2024 Champion Cheesemaker award, which will be announced later in May (she previously won this award in 2022).
“Our team puts in a lot of work to create our beloved Kāpiti cheese range, it’s fantastic to see that be acknowledged by the judges. Cheesemaking is all about the land and the animals and the people. It’s definitely something to be proud of,” Cathy says.
More than 270 cheeses were assessed by the 30-person judging panel, led by Master Judge Jason Tarrant.
Full list of awards
Gold
- Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
- Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue x2
- Kāpiti Kānuka Creamy Havarti x2
- Kāpiti Artisan Tomme
- Kāpiti Te Tihi Premium Aged Cheddar
- Kāpiti Pakari Aged Cheddar
- Kāpiti Pakari Blackcurrant Cheddar
- Kāpiti Ramara
- Mainland Special Reserve Chilli & Garlic Brie x2
- NZMP Epicure
- NZMP Tasty Cheddar
- NZMP Organic Cheddar
- NZMP Special Reserve Cheddar
- NZMP Vintage Cheddar
- Anchor EasyMix Cream Cheese
- Anchor Traditional Cream Cheese 1kg
- NZMP Traditional Cream Cheese
Silver
- Kāpiti Kānuka Smoked Havarti x2
- Kāpiti Awa Tangy Blue
- Kāpiti Kakato Gouda
- Kāpiti Kirīmi Chilli & Garlic
- Kāpiti Artisan Ash Rind White
- Mainland Tasty Cheddar
- NZMP Mild Cheddar
- NZMP Edam
- NZMP Brine Salt Gouda
- NZMP Parmesan
- NZMP Tasty Lite
- NZMP High Solids Cream Cheese
- Anchor Traditional Cream Cheese 5kg
Bronze
- Kāpiti Artisan Bridge St Blue
- Kāpiti Kīrimi Herb & Garlic
- Mainland Special Reserve Smoked Cheddar
- Kāpiti Kahikatea Camembert
- Kāpiti Akatea Brie
- Kāpiti Kohatea Extra Creamy Brie
- Mainland Special Reserve Double Cream Camembert
- NZMP Colby
- NZMP Mozzarella