The Kune Kune pig -also known as Maori pig- are common in New Zealand, however, it is not known exactly where this breed originated. In the late 18th century, European and American whalers visited New Zealand. On their voyage, they took piglets with them, to serve as food. The piglets were often released ashore to reproduce so that they could be slaughtered on the next trip to New Zealand. Later, they traded the piglets for tobacco or other commodities with the Maoris. Among the Maoris, it was customary to give large gifts, preferably animals, to relatives or other nearby tribes. In this way, the Kune Kune's spread throughout New Zealand. However, the breed was nearly extinct by the 1970s. As more European settlers began to settle in New Zealand, the Kune Kune population began to dwindle. Many of the Maori tribes that had previously relied on the Kune Kune piglets for their meat and fat, they now began to adopt more European dietary patterns, and the number of Kune Kune piglets declined more and more as a result. In 1980, two wildlife park owners in New Zealand realized that the Kune Kune breed was on the verge of extinction. Their meat was hardly used anymore by the Maoris and the animals were virtually unknown to the population of European descent. There were reportedly only fifty purebred piglets left in New Zealand. These game park owners searched the entire country and bought over every purebred Kune Kune they could find. A total of eighteen Kune Kune piglets form the basis of the current herd book.

When in 1992 British breeders decided to import the Kune Kune breed, the piglets came to Europe. Five years later, 't Swieneparredies imported the first Kune Kune's to the Netherlands. They are now often kept at petting zoos or as pets.

Maori communities liked the Kune Kune's for their even temperaments, as they did not tend to roam around. They walked on vast grassy fields and were used for grazing. Consequently, the Kune Kune piglets are known for being the only breed of pig not to root around.