Two northern cheese companies have closed their doors in the past year, highlighting the challenges of the industry.
New Zealand cheesemakers are asking people to try cheese they have not tasted before and support local business.
New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association chairman Simon Lamb encouraged cheese enthusiasts and the dairy industry to celebrate the craftsmanship and sustainability of New Zealand cheese.
"Supporting NZ cheese is more important than ever.
"Over the past 12 months, two cheese companies — Grinning Gecko ... [in] Whangārei and The Drunken Nanny which was in Wairarapa — have been forced to close their doors."
In July, the government signed a trade deal with the European Union that will force name changes for some common New Zealand cheese types and may result in cheaper imported cheese.
"It’s a challenging environment for NZ cheesemakers to operate in, with increasing costs, cheese imports and the high cost of compliance, and their success depends upon the support of Kiwi cheese lovers and consumers."
The annual cheese month aimed to highlight those great products and the stores that sold them.
The Top NZ Cheese Stores highlighted the "passion, dedication, and expertise of retailers" while promoting the rich tapestry of New Zealand’s cheese culture.
This was particularly important as many small, boutique cheesemakers were facing unprecedented business challenges, Mr Lamb said.
Whitestone Cheese’s Oamaru store made the top 29 cheese stores in the country and received a gold award for the range of cheese on offer, the specialist knowledge of its staff and its ability to cut from the whole wheel.
This year bronze awards were also given to supermarkets which sell a wide variety of cheeses. In the South, Raeward Fresh in Queenstown got a bronze.
