THEHISTORY of Alpaca Imports into New Zealand THE ARPAC IMPORT Arpac was a Wellington based syndicate that had plans to import 5000 alpacas and 10,000 llama into New Zealand over a five year period in a deal worth NZ$16 million. A suspicious outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Chile just days before the animals were due to go into quarantine put paid to this very ambitious venture. The parties involved in the unlisted company were Murray Hamilton, Ron Inglis and Mike Lynds. In November 1986, ARPAC issues a prospectus to go public with an authorized capital of NZ$40 million. The search for an alternative form of agricultural production led ARPAC to target the llamas and alpacas as part of its growth strategy. The company’s operations are spread over four countries – Australia, New Zealand, Chile and the USA with the main emphasis on developing goat and alpaca studs. Arpac is later taken over by Charter Corporation who claim that ARPAC had an undergeared balance sheet and the promise of above average earnings in the medium term. ARPAC’s aims to bring in 500 animals initially which will be used in a research and breeding programme at Flock House, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries research centre at Bulls in the Manawatu. It was proposed to sell the majority of the alpaca offspring to farming and investment groups which would give the farming industry access to elite breeding animals, semen, embryo’s and other technical information. ARPAC had international associations with the goat industry and was heavily involved in embryo transfer and genetic research. The company was established principally to set up an exotic fibre producing operation relying initially on angora goats – the alpaca side of the operation was held up due to delays in gaining the export protocols. The programme was to be carried out in conjunction with the Chilean authorities who would use techniques developed in New Zealand to improve their own alpaca herd management. Alpaca numbers had been in steady decline and the Chileans were anxious to build up the industry to the same state as neighbouring Peru. In return Chile had approved the export of 1000 alpacas and 2000 llamas a year over the next five years. The outbreak of foot and mouth in July 1987, the loss of taxation benefits for investors to write off expenses against income from other sources, the 1987 share crash and other setbacks eventually brought about the collapse of ARPAC and in November 1987, the company was placed in receivership. 44
by Kit Johnson
ARPAC’s demise was extremely disappointing to all concerned. The aim was to grow the number of superior animals to New Zealand based on required traits like heritability of colour, fibre yield and thickness, fertility and feeding in improved environments. In the end not even the first 500 animals made it to New Zealand. Information sources: NZ Financial Review – May 1987 Christchurch Press – 05/03/87, 08/10/88 Farm and Station – 03/10/86 NZ Herald – 16/03/87
New Zealand Alpaca and Llama Research Company Ltd New Zealand Alpaca and Llama Research Company Ltd or NZAL Ltd was a privately owned company whose principals included Mike Lynds, Alan Laurenson and Ron Inglis. The company which was incorporated on 16 June 1986, was established for the purposes of importing alpacas from South America on behalf of a number of New Zealand investors. In 1989 NZAL Ltd was granted an import licence to import 300 alpacas from Chile. The animals are quarantined in Chile for ninety days and then flown to New Zealand via Tahiti on a North American owned freighter service. The animals left Arica in Chile via Tahiti on a chartered North American airline freighter and land in Wellington in December 1989. The animals are then quarantined on Soames Island in Wellington Harbour for ninety days before release to their new owners. Three blood samples are taken from each animal and the combined quarantine period is 10 times the incubation period of foot and mouth disease. Agricultural Ventures Ltd, a local stock and station agency, whose principals are Peter Johns and Mike MacPherson are engaged to help promote and sell the animals to local investors and farmers. The animals are offered in packages of three females and one male for $50,000 per package and there is immediate interest. Shortly after this promotion, there is an approach from Canadian interests and over 250 of this group are exported to Canada at prices well in excess of the original $50,000 offering. This group of alpacas left New Zealand in early 1991. The NZAL ltd import was highly profitable and offset the losses incurred in the failed ARPAC import.