New Zealand Plume

NZ HERITAGE ROUGHCOAT BREED

Fifty years ago, a truly spectacular cavy legacy began right here in Wellington. In January 1976, dedicated local enthusiasts created the New Zealand Plume. Working with the first cavy club in our country, now named the

New Zealand Cavy Club

, they developed one of our nation’s first original pedigree guinea pig breeds.

For five decades, Kiwi breeders have worked to protect and perfect this iconic kiwi breed.

As we mark this incredible 50-year milestone, the mission to safeguard our heritage breeds is more vital than ever.

Breed Characteristics

he 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.

Our Conservation Mission

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.

Essential New Zealand Plume Facts

Origins & Support: Developed in Wellington in January 1976. The Independent Cavy Clubs are the only clubs in New Zealand supporting the rare heritage breeds

Personality Traits: Known to be intelligent, inquisitive, and highly affectionate. They are usually very easy to tame

The Satin Variety: Features incredibly fine hair with a hollow shaft that allows light to pass through. This gives the coat an intensely shiny, glossy, and polished look

Understanding Rosettes: Best described as neat circles of hair radiating outwards from a tight centre point. Any additional rosettes must never disrupt or spoil the main ridge or tail

Show Bench Faults: Breeders must actively avoid a 'Fan tail' where the tail hair spreads out horizontally instead of vertically. You should also try to breed out any 'skirt' (longer hair growing underneath the rooster tail)

Grooming with Caution: If you plan to exhibit at a cavy show, remember that every single hair in the Rooster Tail is precious! Work slowly and gently, using a wide-tooth comb for the tail, and a soft brush or comb for the body and ridge

Meet the Iconic 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!

Video Credits:

Created by Jen and Dan Snell, featuring 'Mamaku Zorro' at Mamaku and Tintola Guinea Pigs.

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The Rise of the Rooster Tail: NZ Plume History

Many years ago, in the 1950s, a woman migrated from England to New Zealand bringing her English Peruvian and Abyssinian guinea pigs with her. Because there were no cavy shows or clubs at the time, she mixed-mated her cavies and sold the babies as pets in Wellington. Years later, local enthusiast

Christa Krey

discovered her while looking for a pet for her 9-year-old son. Fascinated by the longhaired cavies with thick coats and more than two rosettes, Christa bought several to breed herself.

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

Many of these early enthusiasts wanted to show their guinea pigs, but English pedigree imports were incredibly rare at that stage. To solve this, the club of what is now named the

New Zealand Cavy Club

drew up formal pedigree show standards for both the New Zealand Plume and the New Zealand Peruvian. These new guidelines gave members a clear standard to work toward to produce showable pedigree guinea pigs. The two distinct Kiwi breeds filled a massive need and officially launched the New Zealand cavy fancy.

Our two original unique breeds are now celebrating their

50-year milestone

, and we would love for you to join us in celebrating this incredible history! While they have faced challenging times, even in recent years, our resilient New Zealand breeds continue to succeed.

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.

★ Explore Plume Breeding

New Zealand Plume Cavy with Rooster Tail

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.

★ Explore Plume Genetics

Show 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.

★ Explore Plume Standards

NZ HERITAGE ROUGHCOAT BREED

Breed Characteristics

Our Conservation Mission