Directing and Informing Industry

This year more than any other, New Zealand Winegrowers has been called upon to provide strategic direction and information to the industry. In June 2009 in a series of seminal meetings throughout the country, we provided a detailed analysis of production, sales and recent developments in the industry. These meetings were attended by close to 1,000 industry members. We have also provided valuable technical information to growers and wineries on available options to target their production and intake to market demand.

Contact has been maintained with key Ministers and Government agencies, including the Inland Revenue Department and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Other stakeholders such as the banking and accounting sectors have been regularly updated as well.

Discussion at these levels was greatly assisted by the NZIER report on the economic impact of the New Zealand wine industry that we commissioned. This report allowed us to put some firm numbers around the major boost that wine provides to the economy. According to the report, wine adds $1.28 billion to New Zealand’s GDP and $3.5 billion to our country’s gross output each year. This is not to mention the enormous benefit to New Zealand from having 150 million bottles on dining room and restaurant tables around the world, each proudly bearing the words “New Zealand”.

All these activities were in addition to ‘business as usual’; arming growers and wineries with the right data and opportunities to grow successfully. These include grape price data, the Statistical Annual, various legal guides and codes of practice, export and domestic sales reports, the Bragato Conference, First Steps to Exporting, and the Annual Seminar Series to mention some of the highlights.