More Info →Mr Holben with the First Milking Machine in New Zealand

Four of these machines were set up in the Rongotea area by Mr Holben. The first four farmers were Samuel Knight, Fred Richmond, Carl Anderson and A Broadbelt. These four Rongotea farmers were the first in New Zealand to install milking machines. The installations were made by Mr E R B Holben of Palmerston North on behalf of the Cunnington Pulsator Milking Machine Company, Christchurch. This was before the introduction of oil engines and so one was driven by man power, two by treadmills and one by a steam engine. It was not long afterwards that suitable internal combustion engines were introduced and mechanical milking became accepted practice. The body of one of these machines was used as a water trough on T G Gloyn's farm (Avalon Banks Line) until it rusted out about 1960.