30 years ago, NZ had a population of approx 70 million sheep. The reduction of this population to something more like 30 million is a consequence of all sorts of things such as the cost of transport to Europe, an increase in the use of synthetics and Britain's changing position in Europe. The general drift from pastoral farming overall was also hastened by a reduction in demand for dairy products in Britain and NZ itself.
Left with unprofitable acreage, and realising that the climate was overall comparable to that of northern Spain, agriculture has changed to viniculture around Hawkes Bay. The Pinot Noir is consistently better than elsewhere, but a lot of it is consumed in SE Asia and doesn't get to Europe - which after today's experience is a bit of a shame.
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