Each year, on June 1, rural New Zealand quietly undergoes one of the biggest coordinated movements in the farming calendar - and most people outside the country have never heard of it. 

Known as Moving Day (or Gypsy Day in older rural slang), this is the day when share milkers, contract milkers, farm staff, and their families move to new farms ahead of the new dairy season. It’s a long-standing tradition tied closely to how the dairy industry is structured in New Zealand - and it's a big logistical undertaking involving people, animals, equipment, and entire households. 

For Westland farm supplier Jonny Hamilton, signing off on last season and welcoming the start of the new season, involved moving his family’s 800 Friesian cows from the home farm in Darfield to their winter grazing on a farm 12 kilometres by road at Greendale. Jonny and farm manager Tom Marr enlisted the help of family and friends to move the cows in two mobs of 400, taking the mob due to calve in August on the official moving day, Sunday June 1 and the others due to calve in September, the following day. They had already moved their heifers, and the 50 lightest cows were taken by truck. “We purposely chose the Sunday and Monday because the traffic is quieter on the roads,” says Jonny, who is an equity partner in the Darfield farm. 

As part of planning for the move he obtained a permit from the Council, put temporary fencing around residents’ mowed grass berms to prevent damage and made sure there was plenty of signage in place, with staff wearing high- vis gear. 

The weather was kind for the trek which involved leaving home on the Main West Coast Road Darfield about 7am and arriving about 10.30am on each day. “The cows actually really enjoy it. It’s something different and they know where they are going as we have been taking them to the winter grazing along the same route for the last seven years. They amble along at about 4kms an hour.  It’s quicker than taking them by truck which would take all day and there’s a cost. 

“The staff really enjoy the walk too. And we get a great response from people along the way. They are used to seeing us at this time of year. Kids will run out, excited, saying “here come the cows”. 

On arrival at the destination, the mobs are split into herds of 200 for ease of management and over winter, fed on kale and straw to ensure they are in good condition for calving, while the lighter mob are fed grass. All those involved in the move will look forward to next month when the cows make the return trek to the home farm for calving - the heifers walk back on July 10, the August calvers on July 15 and the September calvers on August 15. 

Why June 1? 

The date marks the start of the new dairy season, and for many share milking agreements, it’s the official handover date. Cows are usually dry (not producing milk) in late autumn and early winter, which makes it the most practical time to move stock without disrupting milking. 

Who Moves and why? 

The most common movers on this day are: 

• Sharemilkers, who own their own herd and contract to milk on someone else's farm. 
• Contract milkers, who are paid per kilogram of milk solids produced. 
• Farm staff, including herd managers, assistants, and other support roles. 

They may move because: 

• Contracts have ended. 
• New opportunities have come up. 
• They’re progressing in their farming careers. 

It's all part of New Zealand’s share milking model, which allows farmers to build equity and work their way toward farm ownership over time — a pathway that’s relatively unique to New Zealand. 

A coordinated effort 

Moving Day requires weeks of planning. Families move house. Equipment and machinery are packed up. Herds are carefully walked or transported to their new farms. Trucking companies and rural service providers are booked well in advance. 

Even schools, vets, banks and councils are familiar with the rhythm of Moving Day and ready to support the many families and animals in transit. 

The bigger picture 

For international customers, this mass migration might sound unusual - but it speaks to the flexibility and opportunity built into the New Zealand dairy industry. It’s a system that gives skilled people the chance to grow their businesses, take on new challenges, and move up through the industry. 

It also reflects the deep level of organisation and collaboration that underpins New Zealand’s primary sector - something that ultimately supports the consistency, reliability and professionalism behind the dairy ingredients you receive. 

A tradition that moves us all 

While the trucks and trailers might roll out quietly in the early morning hours, Moving Day represents something much bigger: the fresh start of a new season, the renewal of partnerships, and the continued evolution of New Zealand’s world-class dairy industry. 

It’s just one more way the land, the people, and the process all work together — to keep things moving.