The breed society
for alpacas in
New Zealand
Supporting alpaca breeders and owners across New Zealand for more than twenty years.
The Association
The Alpaca Association of New Zealand (AANZ) is an incorporated society with the purpose of promotion and education for the development of the alpaca industry. The Association brings together and provides members with support and information regarding alpaca. It is the custodian of the pedigree registry and breed standards.
AANZ supports and promotes many aspects of the industry run by the members. Annual events include the National Show held in spring and National Alpaca Day in May. AANZ also serves as the alpaca industry body when working with the Ministry for Primary Industries, and is affiliated to the Royal Agricultural Society.
A little history
Alpaca have been in New Zealand since as early as 1847, when some of Charles Ledger’s Chilean herd made its way across from Australia and was farmed in Canterbury for several years. The breed did not establish until the late 1980s, when Ian Nelson had the status of alpaca legally changed from “zoo animal” to “livestock”. Ian was bestowed the first Life Membership of AANZ.
Originally AANZ was part of the Alpaca and Llama Association of New Zealand (ALANZ); in 2001 it became AANZ, an alpaca-only organisation. Today New Zealand has approximately 20,000 registered alpacas. Members are spread all around the country and range from new owners to people who have been invested in the alpaca industry for more than twenty years — farmers, lifestyle block owners and city folk looking for an alternative lifestyle.
Purpose and mission
The organisation endeavours to develop a viable and sustainable primary industry and to promote the benefit and value of the breed. The mission of AANZ is to inspire the membership to actively engage in the alpaca industry.
AANZ is governed by an elected National Council of eight members under its Constitution and the Incorporated Societies Act 2022, with three regional committees providing local events and support. Working groups focus on showing, online communications and export.