Since 1994 · A family business first
Our story
A family cheese-making business at Matatoki on the Hauraki Plains, built on certified organic milk, patience, and a cabinet full of medals.
✓ BioGro certified organic 4365
✓ Family owned and run
✓ Made at Matatoki
✓ NZ Champions of Cheese medallists
Meet Kelvin and Cathy
A local family business for more than twenty years
The Cheese Barn is owned and run by Kelvin and Cathy Haigh. Kelvin is the principal cheese-maker and Cathy manages the cheese side of the business, with a small and dedicated team who help make, package and label everything that leaves the factory.
The café is open six days a week, run by a great team of trained baristas, so there is always a warm welcome waiting at the barn.
Where our milk comes from
Simple, natural and certified organic
We believe in keeping things as simple and natural as possible. We are a certified organic factory through BioGro and use no artificial additives, antibiotics, growth hormones or chemical sprays. Our products are unhomogenised, gluten free and contain no GMO.
We don’t keep cows ourselves. Our milk is brought in from a certified organic local family farm that has been in the family since 1972. It runs a grass-based system, making hay and silage each year, and the cows are never fed grain, which makes everything we produce suitable for a paleo diet. Calving is in spring, and every calf gets a name as well as a number. The bulls have names too.
On our milk supplier’s farm
Champions of Cheese
Award-winning since 1998
We are members of the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association and have won medals in their annual Champions of Cheese Awards nearly every year since 1998. A few highlights:
- 2024 Silver for Organic Gouda, bronze for Garlic & Chive and Cumin Seed Gouda
- 2023 Champion award and gold for Organic Halloumi
- 2021 Gold for Organic Brie, silver for Kefir Yoghurt, Quark and Cottage Cheese
- 2018 Champion of Champions for Cumin Seed Gouda
- 2017 Gold for Organic Mozzarella
- 2016 Gold for Organic Gouda, Matatoki Mountain Cheese and Edam
- 2011 Champion Export Cheese for Sheep Gouda
The full medal record, 1998 to 2024
2024
- Silver, Organic Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Garlic & Chive Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
2023
- Champion award, Organic Halloumi
- Gold, Organic Halloumi
- Bronze, Organic Gouda
2021
- Gold, Organic Brie
- Silver, Organic Kefir Yoghurt
- Silver, Organic Quark
- Silver, Organic Cottage Cheese
- Bronze, Organic Kallarney Blue
- Bronze, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Garlic & Chive Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Gouda
2020
- Silver, Organic Greek Yoghurt
- Bronze, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Garlic & Chive Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Gouda
2019
- Gold, Organic Garlic & Chive Gouda
- Silver, Organic Gouda
- Silver, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
- Silver, Organic Cottage Cheese
2018
- Champion of Champions, Cumin Seed Gouda
- Gold, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Gouda
2017
- Gold, Organic Mozzarella
- Silver, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
- Silver, Organic Camembert
- Bronze, Organic Garlic & Chive Gouda
2016
- Gold, Organic Gouda
- Gold, Matatoki Mountain Cheese
- Gold, Edam
- Bronze, Organic Cumin Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Cumin Seed Gouda
2015
- Gold, Organic Gouda
- Silver, Organic Gouda
- Silver, Mountain Cheese
2014
- Gold, Organic Gouda
- Bronze, Organic Camembert
- Bronze, Kallarney Blue
2013
- Gold, Old Gouda
2011
- Gold and Champion Export Cheese, Sheep Gouda
- Gold, Sheep Gouda, Dutch style
- Silver, Cumin Seed Gouda
2010
- Gold, Organic Cumin Gouda
- Gold, Old Golden Gouda
- Gold, Garlic & Chive Gouda
- Silver, Pecorino
- Silver, Camembert
- Bronze, Golden Gouda
- Bronze, Sheep Milk Gouda
- Bronze, Ewes Milk Feta
- Roll of Honour silver: Champion Soft White Rind Cheese, Camembert (innovative packaging); NZSCA Champion Sheep Cheese, Pecorino; NZSCA Champion Export Cheese, Pecorino
- Roll of Honour bronze: Ewes Milk Feta, Sheep Milk Camembert, Golden Gouda, Smoked Ewes Milk Gouda, Smoked Mozzarella, Sheep Milk Gouda
2009
- Gold, Ewe Gouda
- Silver, Coromandel Blue
2004
- Gold, Vintage Cumin Seed Gouda
- Silver, O’l Port Jackson
- Bronze, Halloumi with Mint
- Bronze, Vintage Ewes Milk Gouda
- Bronze, Smokey Joe
- Bronze, Coromandel Blue Ewes Milk
- Bronze, Aged Dutch Style Cheddar
2003
- Gold, Golden Gouda Vintage
- Bronze, Feta with Rosemary
- Bronze, Halloumi
- Bronze, Fresh Mozzarella logs
2002
- Bronze, Maasdam
2000
- Gold, Ewe’s Gouda
1999
- Silver, Quark
1998
- Silver, Feta with Rosemary
- Bronze, Sheep Feta
Taste the difference for yourself
Shop our organic range online, or come and watch the cheese being made.