The Rongotea Dairy factory was established in 1895. The battery driven electric trucks were operated by the Rongotea Co-op Diary Co Ltd 1918-1925, when it began the collection of home separated cream for butter making, instead of receiving whole milk delivered by the farmers. The factory brands of butter were marketed under “Milkmaid’ and ‘Makino’ and all output was sent to Messrs Collet & Co of Cardiff, Wales for sale.