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Story: Development assistance and humanitarian aid

Dairy assistance

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Dairy assistance

A New Zealand advisor (right) is handed a bottle of milk at a tasting session in Bombay, India, around 1960. New Zealand assisted in setting up a dairy plant in the city. The plant provided a clean, safe milk supply, prevented a build-up of stock within the urban environment, and gave farmers in the surrounding countryside a bigger market for their milk. In addition to giving technical advice and equipment, New Zealand provided skim milk powder. Added to Indian cow or buffalo milk, the milk powder reduced the overall fat content while maintaining a high level of milk solids. Known as 'toned milk', it became very popular.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AAEG W2879 626 1e 18/5

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

John Overton, Development assistance and humanitarian aid – Increasing aid, 19th century to 1970s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/32836/dairy-assistance (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by John Overton, published 21 March 2012.