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The survival of a historic and critically endangered New Zealand goat species is being given a major boost, thanks to the efforts of a Kaipara Hills family.
Kitt and Michelle Wyatt discovered the rare Arapawa goat when they were researching animals to graze their three-hectare rural property after moving from Snells Beach two and a half years ago.
“I wanted something significant, not just sheep. I was reading about the history of them and I thought ‘why not?’ And once we got one, we were hooked,” Kitt says. “They’re a really friendly, happy animal.
They’re slightly smaller than most goats, and very affectionate and easy to love.”
Arapawa goats take their name from the island in the Marlborough Sounds where Captain Cook first introduced the animals from Britain in the 1770s. While their original breed, the old English Milch goat, died out in the old country from cross-breeding, the isolated New Zealand herd thrived to the point where they were aggressively culled until quite recently. However, the Arapawa is now internationally recognised as a unique NZ species and a critically endangered rare breed.
There are thought to be up to around 170 goats left on Arapawa Island, and just over 200 registered to owners and breeders elsewhere.
Kitt Wyatt currently has 17 full-bred goats, which he thinks is the second biggest herd in the country, and his focus is on breeding stud males and improving bloodlines. He has brought in goats from Arapawa Island and throughout NZ in an effort to mix up the gene pool.
I’m being quite selective now, I’ve got four different bloodlines,” he says. “I’m breeding for stature and horn-shape, not just colour and prettiness – trying to get back to survival of the fittest.”
The goats come in a range of colours from light brown to dark brown and black, plus mixtures of all three. They all have a distinctive dark stripe down their face. They also produce quality, high fat milk that is good for cheese-making.
Kitt says they are ideal animals for anyone with a bit of land who is looking for something different.
“Fencing is the only issue, you’ve got to have a reasonably good fence, but you can use modified sheep netting. I just extended ours two wires higher,” he says. “The biggest help with setting up was the Arapawa Goats Facebook page, where we all talk and share stories and encourage each other.”
He also discovered that he has a neighbour over the hills, near Mount Auckland, who shares his passion for Arapawas. Shane Docherty started off with a few as a hobby but is now increasing his herd to focus on breeding females.
“Our whole network is based on keeping the species going,” says Kitt.
Info: Arapawa Goats on Facebook
