Kune Kune Pigs

Welcome to our Kune Kune pig website.

Kune Kune pigs are a small breed of pig which were originally kept by the Māoris in New Zealand.

Their name is pronounced cooney cooney, which means "fat and round" in Māori. New Zealand had almost no indigenous land animals when the Māoris arrived so it is unlikely the pigs originated there.

General consensus suggests they arrived from the South Pacific islands via early whalers and sealers who traded with the Māoris. The pigs were then used for food and breeding.

DNA studies now show that the origins of Kune Kunes could be traced to Asian domestic pigs.

Whatever their origins, they almost became extinct in the 1970's. However due to the enthusiasm and dedication of people like Michael Willis and John Simister the breed was saved from extinction.

Nowadays, the Kune Kunes have evolved into charming, friendly and affectionate little pigs.

Their unique appearance and placid temperament makes them very gentle and easy to handle -in fact an ideal pet for any aspiring smallholder. They love contact with people and children and have a strong passion for food and a good belly rub and back scratch.