Hēpara Cashmere has created a unique strain of cashmere goats from a lifetime of goat farming, breeding and research.

Multiple generations have produced Hēpara Cashmere’s robust, resilient herd, resulting in greatly improved cashmere production. Our robust, super fine, high fibre weight cashmere goats provide the best foundation to new breeders, plus a unique textile fibre.

Founded in 1985, Hēpara Cashmere began like many other farmers with some multi-coloured feral goats. We quickly assembled a 500-doe flock and utilized the best sires we could source. The integrated flock swiftly demonstrated the wider farm benefits.

Unfortunately, several factors contributed to the 1987 industry collapse: Farmers became disillusioned and left with cynicism, and the derailed sector stagnated. But… cashmere’s position in luxury fashion stayed unchallenged and that ultimately became our opportunity.

Through the 1990’s and 2000’s most established flocks were discontinued and dispersed. During this time David and Robyn Shaw were offered and acquired a number of leading award-winning flocks and used other influential bloodlines; Kiwi Cashmere, Cooks Cashmere Breeders, Logan, Woodstock, Silkwood, Rimrock, Browett, and Cashco.

Many of these goats selected were established from imported Australian flocks – pinnacle selections of tens of thousands of New Zealand captured and outback ferals, combined with subsequent breeding programs.  Some lines trace back to the very earliest selections of the Kinross and CSIRO flocks, today a lineage in excess of 25 generations.