For close to 150 years, the sheep industry was the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, and numbers boomed, peaking in 1982 when there were more than 70 million sheep and just 3.2 million people.

For close to 150 years, the sheep industry was the backbone of New Zealand’s economy and numbers boomed — peaking in 1982 when there were more than 70 million sheep and just 3.2 million people.