John simister feeding his kunekunes.

 Kunekune (pronounced “cooney cooney”) pigs originated in New Zealand. Kunekune means “fat and round” in the Māori language.  We don’t know the exact origin of the breed, but it's believed that pigs were first brought to New Zealand by whalers and traders. The various breeds mingled and were domesticated by the indigenous people, the Māori. 

In the late 1970's, the breed was 'rediscovered' but there were only about 50 purebred kunekunes left. In 1978, wildlife park owners Michael Willis and John Simister began a conservation program with only 6 purebred sows and 3 purebred boars . These two men single handedly saved the Kunekune from extinction.   

Once more herds were reestablished in New Zealand, it became clear that exporting the breed was important. The conservationists were afraid that if disease or other natural disasters struck in New Zealand this would wipe the breed out completely.  In 1992, the first kunekunes were exported to the UK  and in 1996 the first kunekunes arrived in the USA. There have been four other imports of into the USA occurring in 2005, 2010, and 2012.