March 1 was, of course, the day on which the Institute, from its perspective, agreed to form New Zealand Winegrowers, a single industry body with aims of promotion, representation and research.
On Saturday March 2, NZGGC reached the same conclusion, and on March 3 New Zealand Winegrowers commenced operations.”
The road that led to the formation of NZ Winegrowers was long and tortuous. NZGGC and WINZ had co-operated across a whole range of activities in the 1980s and 1990s, but it was only in the late 1990s that the question of joining forces in a formal sense gained some serious momentum.
However the formation of NZ Winegrowers was no foregone conclusion. Debates about the costs and benefits of getting together were sometimes heated.
‘We will lose our identity’ or ‘We can’t trust them’ said naysayers. Often it must be said the voices in opposition seemed to dwell more on the divides of old, rather than looking forward to the opportunities and challenges of the future.
However many in the industry were thinking about tomorrow rather than yesterday. Peter Hubscher former Chair of the Wine Institute was one. He said at one stage (if I remember correctly) “If we as an industry can’t get together in the good times, how on earth will we ever survive the bad times?” That view was one that resonated with many growers and wineries.
As we all well know we have certainly seen some challenging times since 2002. Supply demand imbalance, the GFC, volatile exchange rates, price pressures ... we don’t need reminding I suspect! As a united body, I like to think we have responded well to those challenges.
So from day one the goal was to position NZW to be future focussed. That focus remains a key driver today.
It is for this reason that last year the Board decided to conduct the Strategic Review. Ten years on from its formation of NZW it was time to get back to basics. What is NZ Winegrowers trying achieve, how should we be organised to support those goals? These and other questions needed to be answered to make NZW fit for future purpose – fit to meet future opportunities and future challenges.
The Strategic Review recommended a raft of changes to the operations and structure of NZ Winegrowers. The Board, as members should be aware, has agreed all the operational changes, for example the development of a Vineyard Register, implementing Geographical Indications legislation etc. We are now busy talking to Government Ministers and other groups in pursuit of these operational changes.
In terms of the big structural issues the Board has agreed a process and timeframe for consultation with members. A Board Committee has been appointed to develop a discussion paper and report to members.
One suspects there will be vigorous debate on some of the key issues. That debate should be viewed as a welcome prerequisite to making NZW fit for future purpose.
As we get deeper into the process of implementing the Strategic Review it is clear there is going to be changes to the way NZ Winegrowers conducts its business. Some changes have already been signalled to members.
For example we have recently notified the in-principle decision by the Board to discontinue the Brand Fee system, which has helped support export development since the early days of the Wine Guild in the UK in the early 1990’s. This decision was not taken lightly, but after the Strategic Review it was clear it needed to be made.
The changes consequent on the Strategic Review means the next few months are definitely not going to be ‘business as usual’ for NZ Winegrowers. Ultimately a new, refocused and revitalised NZ Winegrowers will emerge from this process.
We are committed to keeping growers and wineries apprised of developments as and when they occur. To that end in late March members have been sent one Strategic Review Update; others will follow in coming months.
These Updates will track our progress in re-making NZ Winegrowers – in positioning it to meet the opportunities and challenges of the next decade. When we look back in ten years time, hopefully we will see that those Updates have tracked a little more history in the making.
Best wishes for the vintage. ν
