History of Kunekunes

Kunekune (pronounced cooney cooney) pigs are a small pig from New Zealand. Although not indigenous to New Zealand, they were kept by the Maori tribes because they did not roam and the quality of the meat. Kunekune in Maori means fat and round. In the 1970's the Kunekune almost became extinct. Then Michael Willis and John Simister traveled across New Zealand to gather up all the Kunekunes they could find. They purchased 18 Kunekunes with an estimate of only 50 Kunekunes left. Today, thanks to these two men and others who are preserving this breed, kunekunes are making a come back, not only New Zealand, but England and now the United States as well.
The origins of the Kunekune are not known, but there are many theories about how they came to New Zealand. Whatever the origins are, they have developed into a fun, loveable pig. The Kunekune comes in a variety of colors ranging from black, white, ginger, brown, cream and spotted. They are completely covered in hair with textures from short, long, curly, soft, and coarse. They have a short upturned snout, perfect for grazing. They also have a pair of tassels called piri, piri. They are small in stature, usually about 24 to 30 inches high, and weighing between 140 and 220 pounds. They thrive on human contact and are extremely friendly and easily handled.