New Zealand deer milk will soon be sold as moisturiser overseas.
Deer on Rangitaiki Station Photo: RNZ/Susan Murray
State-owned farmer Pāmu has launched a partnership with South Korea's top pharmaceutical company - Yuhan - to supply deer milk for the manufacture of cosmetics.
It will be the first time New Zealand deer milk has been sold for use in the beauty industry.
Yuhan's products, including a serum and moisturiser, will go on sale in South Korea next year.
Pāmu chief executive Steve Carden said the company currently has one deer-milking farm, from which the milk would be supplied, but expansion plans were being considered.
"This is a very exciting partnership for Pāmu in terms of securing future opportunities for deer milk.
"It is incredibly important that we partner with strategic companies like Yuhan, who are committed to research and development and the commercialisation of products containing unique ingredients such as deer milk," Mr Carden said.
Yuhan chief executive Jung-Hee Lee said Pāmu deer milk contained a unique combination of properties that would deliver exceptional results to customers.
"We are confident they will be highly sought-after by sophisticated buyers," Mr Lee said.
The deer milk cosmetic products will be available in South Korean New Origin stores from early 2019.