95% of New Zealand vineyards and 100% of wineries measure and record the total water they use.
Making sure every drop counts and minimising our impact on water quality is key to ensuring our water supply remains both secure and clean for the future. A precious resource, water is of critical importance to New Zealand’s wine industry, especially in vine irrigation, frost protection and winemaking. Using water as efficiently as possible is a priority for our industry, and that’s why we’re proud that a high number of our members are implementing initiatives to conserve water or reduce their water use.
The wine industry is taking important steps to minimise the potential impact of growing grapes on our precious freshwater ecosystems. In 2025 we have successfully piloted a digital freshwater farm planning tool that helps members to identify and mitigate any risks posed to freshwater by their winegrowing activities. We have also developed and introduced industry guidelines that educate members on these risks and how to mitigate them. Through combining education and the development of an innovative tool that drives real time actions we move closer to our overall goal.
94% of vineyards optimise their water applications for irrigation.
- 92% of vineyards have practices or initiatives to conserve or reduce water use
- 88% of vineyards have leak detection and repair programmes
- 24% of vineyards are benchmarking their water use over time
- 18% of vineyards are purchasing new equipment that enables water efficiencies
100% of wineries have initiatives to conserve of reduce water use.
- 79% of wineries have leak detection programmes
- 50% of wineries are recovering and recycling cleaning water
- 84% of wineries have shut-off hose nozzles to reduce water use