Welcome to Arapuni Milk (South Waikato Processing Facility Ltd)

The South Waikato Processing Facility Ltd (SWPF), a 37,000 tonne per year milk powder plant. It is planned to be located north of the South Waikato town of Arapuni opposite Power House Road. SWPF will market itself and its products under the brand name of Arapuni Milk.

Currently nearing the resource consent application submission phase, the high specification milk powder plant is due to commence construction in July of 2010. It will be ready to take first milk in August 2011.

The project managers are Hamilton based ZOAGN Ltd while the engineers are another Hamilton based company, International Process Systems Ltd.

With a population of just 300, Arapuni would enjoy a major economic stimulus from the plant, which will assist in reviving some of the infrastructure business which had closed down. These include garages, and food outlets and would coincide with the opening of the planned $9 million Putaruru to Rotorua Cycleway Project, which passes through the Arapuni River Trail.

The plant will have around 70 employees and a number of those will settle in Arapuni in order to be close to their employment creating a Win-Win for Arapuni.

The Arapuni Slow Town concept has appeal to the community focussed company, SWPF. SWPF would like to see the dairy factory become a focal point of the community as dairy factories traditionally were, before centralisation.

“Each little town had a dairy factory and it was part of the sense of community which has been lost through amalgamation of processing” says Richard Stapel, SWPF Commercial Director.

Mr Stapel said although plans were at an early stage, consideration was being given to incorporating a small boutique cheese production operation with a retail outlet, which would generate further economic benefit for the community.

The plant will have a construction spend of approx $100 million and an annual wage bill of around $4 million, much of which will be spent in the local and surrounding communities.

SWPF is committed to the local Arapuni community and the pristine local environment and as such has plans to ensure both enjoy positive benefits from the development.

Farmers interested in becoming suppliers can register via this web site while members of the public and other interested groups wanting information are asked to regularly check this site for press releases, news and updates.