New Zealand Plume: Heritage Cavy Breed
Save NZ Plume

Discover the NZ Plume: Famous for its Rooster Tail and Mohawk Ridge

Fifty years ago, a truly spectacular cavy legacy began right here in Wellington.  In January 1976, dedicated local enthusiasts created the New Zealand Plume with the first cavy club in our country now named 'New Zealand Cavy Club' developed one of our nation’s first original unique pedigree guinea pig breeds.

The New Zealand Plume is a rare roughcoat pedigree cavy heritage breed with a well-raised "mohawk" like ridge of hair about 1cm in height and progressing from the shoulders straight down the body and sharply rising in length to form a high-arched, spectacular rooster tail which is helped to be raised by two rump rosettes.  They can be in any colour/s and patterns.  

For five decades, Kiwi breeders have worked to protect, preserve, and perfect this extraordinary kiwi breed.  As we mark this incredible 50-year milestone, the mission to protect our heritage breeds is more vital than ever.

The preservation of New Zealand’s heritage pedigree breeds relies entirely on dedicated grassroots conservation.  As the only clubs in New Zealand supporting the New Zealand Plume, the Independent Cavy Clubs are proudly dedicated to preserving and celebrating this Kiwi heritage treasure.  Through targeted breeding programs, show benches, and passionate breed mentorship, the clubs ensure that this spectacular rooster tail icon continues to thrive and enchant fanciers for generations to come.

 New Zealand Plume Photos

Explore our gallery of the spectacular New Zealand Plume.  See up close their famous 'mohawk' ridge, iconic rooster tail, and the beautiful variety of colours.
Mamaku Snowbird New Zealand Plume CavyMamaku Zorro New Zealand Plume CavyMamaku King New Zealand Plume Rooster TailTwo New Zealand Plume Baby Guinea PigsBaby New Zealand Plume Cavy from Lightning Cavy StudChampion Mamaku Snowman New Zealand Plume CavyNZ Plume Cavy from Wai Guinea Cavy StudMamaku King NZ Plume at Taranaki Cavy Group showMamaku Snowman at Taranaki Cavy Group showMamaku Zorro New Zealand Plume Rare BreedSatin New Zealand Plume CavyWhite Satin NZ Plume Unique Cavy BreedSeveral New Zealand Plumes being judged at Independent Cavy Show in Taranaki Cavy Group
Show Results 

Essential New Zealand Plume Facts


  • There is a satin variety which the hair is very shiny and glossy.  This variety has very fine hair compared to the original version.  Satin has a hollow hair shaft which allows the light to pass through and give it extra shine

  •  Introducing Satin to the New Zealand Plume happened about 25 years ago through Mamaku Cavy Stud and took many years to establish

  • Personality traits include intelligent, inquisitive and affectionate and are usually easy to tame

  • Groom a NZ Plume with caution if you want to exhibit at cavy show.  Rooster tail should be combed with a wide tooth comb carefully trying not to remove many hairs.  Ridge and body use a soft brush or comb.  If tail becomes sticky at the ends you could slowly tease it off with your fingers.  Conclusion be careful to not ruin precious hairs, especially in rooster tail.

  • Must avoid the 'Fan tail', where the tail spreads horizontally, rather than vertically.  And try to avoid a skirt which is longer hair under rooster tail

  • Rosettes is best described as circles of hair radiating from a centre point.   Any additional rosettes must not spoil the ridge or tail

  • Independent Cavy Clubs are the only clubs in New Zealand that officially recognise and support our rare heritage breed, the New Zealand Plume.

Meet the New Zealand Plume

Watch the spectacular New Zealand Plume and discover what makes this 50-year-old heritage breed a true Kiwi treasure.

Includes a blooper at the end.  Created by Jen and Dan Snell and featuring Mamaku Zorro at Mamaku and Tintola Guinea Pigs.

Please like and subscribe to our channel
YouTube Channel New Zealand Plume Playlist 
Photo taken in 1970's at New Zealand Cavy Club show featuring a New Zealand Plume on the Winners table

The Rise of the Rooster Tail: NZ Plume History

Many years ago, in the 1950s, a woman migrated from England to New Zealand with her English Peruvian and Abyssinian guinea pigs. There were no cavy shows or clubs, so she mixed mated her cavies and sold the babies as pets.  She lived in Wellington. Christa Krey found her when she was looking for a pet for her 9-year-old son and saw some of her longhairs and bought some for herself. They had more than two rosettes and thick hair. 

When the inaugural meeting to form a cavy club was held in Wellington in January 1976, over 70 people attended with some of their guinea pigs. Most of these were New Zealand Plume and New Zealand Peruvian type cavies.

Many of these people wanted to show guinea pigs, but English pedigree imports were few at that stage. Therefore, the committee of what is now named the New Zealand Cavy Club drew up pedigree show standards for two breeds, New Zealand Plume and the New Zealand Peruvian, for members to work with to produce showable pedigree guinea pigs.  The two kiwi breeds filled a need and helped to start the New Zealand cavy fancy.

Our two original unique breeds are now 50 years old, and we would like you to join us in celebrating this milestone! They have been through challenging times, even in recent years, but our New Zealand breeds are ambitious.

New Zealand Plume Complete Guides

 Explore our comprehensive, specialized resources from tracking this unique roughcoat's 50-year history, decoding the genetics, to mastering show bench presentation and the official standards.
Rare Baby New Zealand Plume Guinea Pig

NZ Plume Preservation Breeding

Because this is a uniquely stabilized Kiwi heritage breed, achieving the perfect show-bench silhouette is not an overnight process.  It involves rigorous selective breeding to isolate specific coat genes and bring out the most desirable structural traits.

Keep reading about NZ Plume preservation breeding
New Zealand Plume Cavy with Rooster Tail

NZ Plume Genetics

This page provides the definitive genetic blueprints and guidelines required to safely maintain and preserve the vulnerable New Zealand Plume bloodline without compromising coat texture or genetic diversity. We dive deep into the Plume genetics.

Keep reading about the NZ Plume Genetics
Beautiful White NZ Plume Guinea Pig

NZ Plume Standards

A Show Standard is essentially a "blueprint" for the perfect New Zealand Plume.  It is an official written document that describes exactly how a specific pedigree breed should look to be considered a top-quality example of its breed.

Keep reading about the NZ Plume Show Standards
New Zealand Plume Rooster Tail