January 14 was an exciting day for Ōpōtiki Museum volunteers, with the return to Ōpōtiki of an old kahikatea butter box, which would have left the once thriving, Opotiki Dairy Factory, approximately 100 years ago.

The butter box had been sourced on eBay by Sonia McCann, nee Gedson, an ex-Ōpōtiki woman now living in London.

Although far from her hometown, Ms McCann keeps a keen eye out for items of historical interest to Ōpōtiki.

In 2024, she purchased a cup manufactured 100 years ago for the Ōpōtiki Masonic Hotel. This is on display in the Ōpōtiki Museum.  

Museum volunteers have been researching the history of the butter box, which is labelled, “Opotiki New Zealand pure creamery butter”, and carries a stamp from the Department of Agriculture with “Finest D16”.

History tells us the dairy factory was opened in Ōpōtiki in 1895, and butter production began in 1902. Originally, the butter was marketed as its own “Opotiki” brand, but it was later replaced by the “Fernleaf” brand and with “Opotiki” marked on the box.

In the early decades of the 20th Century, the Ōpōtiki factory, in line with other dairy factories nationwide, exclusively used boxes constructed from kahikatea timber. The wood was light and would not taint the butter.

This butter box, along with all the other Ōpōtiki Dairy Factory butter filled boxes, was transported to the Ōpōtiki wharf, where it was loaded onto a coastal ship and transported to Auckland. In Auckland, the butter was graded, stamped “Finest D16”, then continued its journey by refrigerated ship to the United Kingdom.

On arriving in England, who purchased the 56lb box of butter is unknown.

Possibly a local grocer, who would have cut and sold the butter in smaller portions to customers. In an era when nothing went to waste, the box was repurposed into a packing case, and today still carries the addressed destination label for: J. E. Roberts, 19 Thatch Lane, Besses O’ Th” Barn, Whitefield, via Manchester.

As the result of a bit of careful research by Ms McCann, we know that Jane Emma Roberts was living at this address in 1939. It seems the box was used for storing clothes, as a very small button was found inside the box when it was unpacked. The lid had been reinforced, hinged and a latch attached.  

Fast forward to 2025, the box, still in great condition, was put up for sale on eBay.

Thanks to Ms McCann, and Royal Mail, the box has made its return journey to Ōpōtiki, this time by a 21st Century jet plane – a journey around the world and back that encompasses approximately 100 years.

The Ōpōtiki Museum is delighted to be shortly putting this well-travelled box on display.