History

AsureQuality's roots as an organisation extend back a century and a half.

But the story goes back even further - the history of food quality management and assurance stems from the very beginnings of settlement in Aotearoa.

2025 marks 150 years since the appointment of the first sheep inspectors at the Department of Crown Lands, a milestone marking the beginning of the organisation we know today as AsureQuality. This was followed by the first dairy inspections, and the introduction of meat inspection for New Zealand’s first frozen lamb exports, helping to establish the country’s reputation for quality and giving our products a competitive advantage.

While there have been changes to our name and the scope of our work over the intervening years, the emphasis on protecting New Zealand farmers and food producers has remained the same. We’ve made use of advances in technology and food testing to help producers meet changing market requirements and consumer demands, and we’re proud to continue to shape the future of food assurance.

These are some of the defining moments that have shaped who we are today.

Around 800 years ago		Māori settlers left their Pacific home bringing crops and animals to Aotearoa; establishing food-producing resources on land and fishing practices on the sea
Mid 1700s - mid 1800s		European explorers and later English, French and other settlers arrive brining further crops and animals. Māori agricultural industry, provides crucial food support
1850s - early 1860s		Māori farmers exported grain and potatoes to the Australian colonies
1861		Diseased Cattle Act passed
1875		Department of Crown Lands formed
1876		Animals Import Prohibition Act introduced, stopping importation of any animals that could cause farmers problems
1882		First frozen shipment of lamb sent to the UK
1888		First dairy factory inspections
1898		Meat Hygiene Service created
1908-39		Slaughter and Protection Act legislated meat inspection
1909		Department of Agriculture laboratory in Wellington begins seed testing
1928		Seed testing laboratory moves to Palmerston North
1952		Dairy Industry Act introduced regulating dairy factories and the quality and safety of their products
1961		TB testing commenced
1972		Department of Agriculture merged with Fisheries Department to create Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)
1977		First intake of female meat inspectors
1980		New laboratory opened at Lynfield, Auckland
1993		New Zealand Biosecurity Act – creates laws relating to pests and unwanted organisms; a world first
1998		MAF Quality Management division becomes two State Owned Enterprises (SOE) – ASURE New Zealand Ltd (handling meat inspection) and AgriQuality (specialising in livestock, horticulture and forestry)
1999		Meat Act and Dairy Industry Act replaced by Animal Products Act and concept of 3rd party audits of Risk Management Programmes (RMP) introduced
2003		AgriQuality Wellington Laboratory opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark
2005		Food testing laboratory opened in Christchurch
2007		AsureQuality established from AgriQuality and ASURE
2007		Diagnostics kit manufacturing facility in Melbourne opened, production starts
2009		Singapore Lab established and SINGLAS accreditation gained in nine months
2011		Global Proficiency founded providing independent assurance for testing laboratories
2015		Breeding population of Queensland Fruit Fly eradicated in Auckland
2015		AsureQuality rapidly develop and implement testing and quality assurance in response to 1080 contamination in infant formula scare
2016		Joint Venture with BVAQ established with the purchase of Dairy Technical Services (DTS) in Australia
2017		Mycoplasma bovis outbreak response supported by AsureQuality biosecurity services
2020		AsureQuality rebranded and name extended to AsureQuality - Kaitiaki Kai
2025		AsureQuality celebrates 150 years Joint Venture Mérieux NutriSciences AQ established Progress in eradicating bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Aotearoa allows Management Agency OSPRI to in-house TB testing – concluding over 30 years of AsureQuality involvement

History

Around 800 years ago

Māori settlers left their Pacific home bringing crops and animals to Aotearoa; establishing food-producing resources on land and fishing practices on the sea

Mid 1700s - mid 1800s

European explorers and later English, French and other settlers arrive brining further crops and animals. Māori agricultural industry, provides crucial food support

1850s - early 1860s

Māori farmers exported grain and potatoes to the Australian colonies

1861

Diseased Cattle Act passed

1875

Department of Crown Lands formed

1876

Animals Import Prohibition Act introduced, stopping importation of any animals that could cause farmers problems

1882

First frozen shipment of lamb sent to the UK

1888

First dairy factory inspections

1898

Meat Hygiene Service created

1908-39

Slaughter and Protection Act legislated meat inspection

1909

Department of Agriculture laboratory in Wellington begins seed testing

1928

Seed testing laboratory moves to Palmerston North

1952

Dairy Industry Act introduced regulating dairy factories and the quality and safety of their products

1961

TB testing commenced

1972

Department of Agriculture merged with Fisheries Department to create Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)

1977

First intake of female meat inspectors

1980

New laboratory opened at Lynfield, Auckland

1993

New Zealand Biosecurity Act – creates laws relating to pests and unwanted organisms; a world first

1998

MAF Quality Management division becomes two State Owned Enterprises (SOE) – ASURE New Zealand Ltd (handling meat inspection) and AgriQuality (specialising in livestock, horticulture and forestry)

1999

Meat Act and Dairy Industry Act replaced by Animal Products Act and concept of 3rd party audits of Risk Management Programmes (RMP) introduced

2003

AgriQuality Wellington Laboratory opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark

2005

Food testing laboratory opened in Christchurch

2007

AsureQuality established from AgriQuality and ASURE

2007

Diagnostics kit manufacturing facility in Melbourne opened, production starts

2009

Singapore Lab established and SINGLAS accreditation gained in nine months

2011

Global Proficiency founded providing independent assurance for testing laboratories

2015

Breeding population of Queensland Fruit Fly eradicated in Auckland

2015

AsureQuality rapidly develop and implement testing and quality assurance in response to 1080 contamination in infant formula scare

2016

Joint Venture with BVAQ established with the purchase of Dairy Technical Services (DTS) in Australia

2017

Mycoplasma bovis outbreak response supported by AsureQuality biosecurity services

2020

AsureQuality rebranded and name extended to AsureQuality - Kaitiaki Kai

2025

AsureQuality celebrates 150 years

Joint Venture Mérieux NutriSciences AQ established

Progress in eradicating bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Aotearoa allows Management Agency OSPRI to in-house TB testing – concluding over 30 years of AsureQuality involvement