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Owner Wakatū Incorporation’s
chairman Paul Morgan says the
company was launched in 1998
in partnership with two Maori
organisations, and is recognised
as 'He mātāmua taketake - the original' as the
first Māori-owned and operated wine label in New
Zealand and the world. “Our vision in founding a
wine company was to have a platform to share
our culture, story and values with the world,” he
says. “Thanks to farsighted pioneers such as
James Wheeler and Mugwi Macdonald, we were
a relatively early entrant in an industry that has
become one of New Zealand’s top export earners.
Our wines are now exported and enjoyed by people
all over the world, with significant markets in the
United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
From the beginning we knew how important our
brand and story were. Every Tohu bottle carries
our distinctive logo, derived from a koru pattern.
For Māori, the koru symbolises growth, life and the
natural world, and our logo celebrates this iconic
spiral. It represents the growth of our company and
the journey of our people from the past to today.
This koru signifies our long-term intergenerational
goals and has become our tohu, our signature,”
Morgan says. Since 2002, Tohu Wines has been
growing its own grapes, and since 2012, has been
crafting wine in its own winery. Tohu Wines is part
of Kono, the food and beverage arm of Wakatū,
and Kono chief executive Rachel Taulelei says
kaupapa Māori is taken to the world every day.
“We strive to work in ways that are kind to people
and environment without compromising quality
and integrity. We have a strong spiritual connection
with the land and a responsibility to pass it on in
good health to future generations,” she says. “Over
the past 20 years, we have created internationally
acclaimed wines, crafting wine that encapsulates
a place and time, and reflects the unique
characteristics of our vineyards. In making our wine
we are committed to upholding our deeply held
values, which include rangatiratanga, manaakitanga
and hihiritanga – excellence, kindness and
innovation.” Morgan says 20 years is a significant
milestone for any business. As part of the 20-year
celebrations, Tohu is releasing a limited edition
Methodé Traditionelle Rewa Rosé 2015 at a special
launch event this month. Kono is a Māori-owned,
top 100 New Zealand food and drinks company
employing more than 400 staff, farming more than
530ha of land and sea, and exporting to more than
25 countries. Brands include Tohu, Kono and Aronui
wines, Kono mussels, Annies fruit bars and Tutū
cider. Wakatū Incorporation is based in Nelson and
has approximately 4000 shareholders who descend
from the original Māori land owners of the Nelson,
Tasman and Golden Bay regions – Te Tau Ihu, the
top of the South Island. www.tohuwines.co.nz
Tohu Wines milestones
1998 Tohu Wines launched in partnership between
the South Island-based Wakatū Incorporation and
Ngāti Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust, and Gisborne-based
Wi Pere Trust. First vintage of 3200 cases sold
domestically
2000 First wine exported
2002 Awatere Valley (Marlborough) vineyard
purchased and first vines planted
2005 Whenua Matua (Moutere) vineyard planted
2008 Bruce Taylor starts as Tohu chief winemaker
2010 First trophy awarded - Tohu Marlborough
Sauvignon Blanc 2010 wins Champion Sauvignon
Blanc and New Zealand Wine Cellars Spence
Brothers Trophy
2010 Wakatū Incorporation buys out NRAIT (Ngāti
Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust) and the Wi Pere Trust to
become the sole owner of Tohu
2012 Winery purchased in the Awatere Valley
2017 Tohu Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2016
named in Air New Zealand Fine Wines of New
Zealand list – a compilation of the country’s most
prestigious wines for 2017
2018 Tohu Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon
Blanc selected to be served at former United States
President Barack Obama’s invitation-only dinner in
Auckland
Happy
Birthday Tohu, the world’s first
Maori-owned wine
company, has thanked
its supporters who have
taken it from humble
beginnings through to an
internationally-recognised
and award-winning wine
label that is about to
celebrate its 20th birthday.
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