Industry News

Wine Marlborough Update The mood is cautiously optimistic that winter pruning will be completed on time, according to feedback from a webinar held by Wine Marlborough and New Zealand Winegrowers. There were Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme repatriation flights in June, with 60 workers from Marlborough returning to Vanuatu for humanitarian reasons. Over 200 vintage cellar hands stuck in Marlborough packed the Marlborough Convention Centre on June 17 to hear about their fate (see story Page 10). We will continue to support these members of the Marlborough wine community until they are able to return home. Marlborough Winegrowers joined as a Section 274 party against Fish & Game, the Environmental Defence Society, and by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, who are appealing parts of the Marlborough District Council’s (MDC) decisions on the proposed Marlborough Environment Plan. The Environment Court process is likely to take several years and begins with a case management conference in August to determine how the appeals will progress. Wine Marlborough’s advocacy manager, Vance Kerslake, has been appointed to the Marlborough interim-Regional Skills Leadership Group (i-RSLG). The purpose of the groups is to identify the workforce and skills needs and priorities in their region, both now and in the future, and advise government on actions to cultivate these. These interim groups will provide a focus for drawing together labour market information, and offer valuable labour market intelligence to central Government and regions to support the Covid-19 response. The next Marlborough Winegrowers meeting with the MDC is on August 25. If you have any issues you want us to raise with council, email advocacy manager Vance Kerslake at advocacy@winemarlborough.nz

Six day vintage week Wine Marlborough is holding a six-day vintage week seminar on July 29. The event will look at the advantages of a six or seven-day vintage roster and how to make the change. Speakers include Patricia Miranda-Taylor (pictured) and Andrew Petrie from Wither Hills, Courtney Morse from Delegat, and Spring Timlin and Lee Williams from Matua. Wednesday July 29, 3pm, at the MRC Theatre 85 Budge Street. RSVP to advocacy@ winemarlborough.nz

Website refresh Wine Marlborough’s website refresh provides an inviting view of the region’s wine industry, including an invitation to visit and indulge in a Marlborough Escape. Marketing and communications manager Sarah Linklater says the site is easier to navigate, cleaner to view, and designed to appeal to both industry and consumers, with a ‘visit’ page that showcases cellar doors, as well as all the news and events updates the industry requires. “We’re a world class wine industry, and it’s important that Wine Marlborough’s website reflects that.” Check it out at winemarlborough.co.nz

Matariki New Zealand Winegrowers plans to be a little star struck this month, with a series of stories to celebrate Matariki, the Māori name for a star constellation that rises into the sky in mid-winter and marks the Māori New Year. Traditionally, Māori used Matariki to determine when to harvest and plant crops for the next season. Nowadays Matariki is still seen as an important time to celebrate the end of harvest and show respect for the land on which we live. New Zealand Winegrowers will be sharing stories on how wine companies mark Matariki on nzwine.com throughout July. Grape Days 2020 Due to the uncertainty caused by Covid-19, including the complexity of inviting international speakers, Grape Days will not be held as physical events this year. As an alternative, New Zealand Winegrowers and Bragato Research Institute are exploring ways to bring members research, news and vineyard extension through online platforms or smaller regional workshops in the coming months. Anyone with ideas for these webinars or workshops can email info@bri.co.nz Sydney International The Sydney International Wine Competition will proceed with its 41st event this year, with the entry period and judging schedule moved back a month due to increased logistical issues associated with coronavirus. The entry date for wines is July 27 and entries close on October 26. Judging will take place in mid-November, with a judging panel reduced to 11 to meet the New South Wales social distancing regulations, while entries will be restricted to a maximum of 1,300. Because of international border closures, judges will largely come from Australia this year, but may include New Zealand judges if restrictions

ease in time to finalise arrangements. sydneywinecomp.com

Bastille Day Clos Henri is celebrating Bastille Day at its Wairau Valley cellar door on July 19, from 11am to 3pm. Entry is free, and

Five NZW board vacancies In September this year New Zealand Winegrowers will hold elections to fill five Member Class director vacancies on its board. Any voting members of NZW may nominate a candidate from July 13 to August 14. Because of the Member Class voting system, every member – large or small – will have an equal chance to influence who is elected to the board for these five positions. In 2016, when NZW held its first election for the board of the newly restructured organisation, there was low diversity amongst the candidates who were nominated to, and eventually elected to, the Board. In 2020, NZW really hopes to see a diverse range of talented candidates standing – across gender, ethnicity, age, regions and industry roles. What is NZW looking for in candidates for the Board? The Board exists to provide governance and direction to the activities of your industry body; to ensure that your levy funds there will be wine and food available to purchase, including French cuisine and vin chaud. There’s also pétanque to play and kids activities. If the day is wet, the Bastille Day celebrations will be held under cover, in the winery.

are well spent on enhancing the industry’s reputation, and in providing winegrowers with the information, support, research, market access, profile and forward thinking that will best support the industry’s success. To do this most effectively, the full board of 12 directors should ideally be made up of a mix of individuals who bring a range of different strengths, perspectives, skills and experiences. All of them must be willing to ask perceptive questions, listen thoughtfully and respectfully to answers, and to help ensure that NZW maintains the right focus. Whatever their affiliation and personal interests, once elected each Director must be prepared to “leave their hat at the door” and focus collectively on the interests of the entire industry. All five Member Class directors elected in September will hold office for a term of four years. There are seven other directors, and all 12 are equals on the board. As a director you will be required to attend board meetings (normally six per year),

and also be on two board committees. How are candidates nominated? If this interests you or someone you know, you can find more information about becoming a candidate and being a director in the Candidate Information and Election Guide, which also includes the nomination form. This is available from www. electionz.com/nzwine2020resource or you can request information from the Returning Officer, Warwick Lampp of Electionz.com on 0800 666 042 or email iro@electionz. com. If you want to talk directly with someone about what is involved in being a director, you can make contact with any of the current directors, with details available at nzwine.com/members/about-us/nzwinegrowers-board/, or call NZW’s chief executive officer Philip Gregan on 09 306 5555.

Nominations for Member Class Directors open officially on Monday, 13 July 2020 and will remain open until noon on Friday, 14 August.