McDonald's Lime Limited

Otorohanga plant shown

Since 1865 the McDonald's brand has been synonymous with quality New Zealand Lime.

Founded at that time by lime burner James McDonald, the company was originally based on the Otago Peninsula, followed by moves, first to Totara, North Otago, and then to Kakanui near Oamaru. During this time, despite a depression, two world wars and changes in ownership, McDonald's Lime prospered and by 1960 was supplying the entire South Island with lime.

In 1968, following a capital restructuring which saw Holcim (formally Milburn) become the major shareholder in the company, McDonald's Lime relocated to their current locations in the Waitomo region. This move coincided with the opening of the steel refining operation at Glenbrook and that company's need for high quality lime as a flux in its steel making process.

Today McDonald's Lime operates New Zealand's biggest single calcium carbonate quarry at its 67 hectare Oparure operation.

This calcium-rich resource is a deposit of exceptionally high-grade limestone - much of it exceeding 95% purity, is supported by New Zealand's most advanced processing systems and resources which include the country's two largest rotary kilns. Whilst all crushing and screening operations take place at the quarry, these kilns are located at the company's Otorahanga complex and used for the manufacture of burnt and hydrated lime - a large proportion of which is exported to overseas gold mining operations.

McDonald's Lime is also the premier supplier to a wide ranging customer base that includes, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, water treatment, timber, roading and steel refining. And almost 140 years later McDonald's Lime, through their unswerving commitment to quality, product control and customer satisfaction, is still leading the way.