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      Hawke's Bay

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      Beaches, wineries and Art Deco. The Hawke's Bay has a diverse economy, including business services that support its sectors to be the second largest contributor to regional GDP in the country. A popular tourist destination, the region has some of the countries best restaurants as well as stunning scenery, markets and festivals.

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      Bay of Plenty

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      The Bay of Plenty is officially New Zealand's sunniest destination, enjoying short-lived winters and long summer days. The Region offers some of the country's most spectacular views and many ways to enjoy the pristine scenery and natural wonders. Visitors also enjoy exploring the Bay's Māori heritage and pre-European roots.

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      Waikato

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      The Waikato is known for its rolling plains, fertile land and the mighty Waikato River. The region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand, with a strong focus on primary production and associated manufacturing.

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      Whanganui

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      Welcome to Whanganui. This is our place; where history is full of stories, legends and rich legacy. Where a thriving arts scene, creativity and evolving culture inspire our modern lives. Where breath-taking natural landscapes capture imaginations at every turn.

      Manawatu

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      Located in the lower North Island, Manawatu is heartland New Zealand, offering an authentic Kiwi experience.

      The main in the region are Palmerston North, most notable for Massey University. Palmerston has a vibrant, arts and culture scene.

      The region's economy is based on food production and processing, research and education. The region is also home for the New Zealand defence force.

      Northland

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      Northland was originally home to some of our country's first human inhabitants. Today, it is one of the fastest growing regions in New Zealand and home to nearly 189,000 people. Rich in culture and history, the region boasts a stunning natural environment.

      Auckland

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      Auckland Region stretches from the the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in the east to the expansive beaches of the rugged west coast of the Tasman Sea. Auckland City, the largest urban area in New Zealand is considered the main economic center of New Zealand and a popular destination for international students and travellers.

      Gisborne

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      Gisborne is a Region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. It's known for wineries and surf beaches such as Makorori. The region has maintained a strong Maori heritage. The region's economy is made up mainly of agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

      Taranaki

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      Taranaki is a coastal and mountainous region on the western side of New Zealand's North Island. Its landscape is dominated by Mount Taranaki, its namesake volcano, which lies within the rainforested Egmont National Park.

      The port city of New Plymouth is the area's cultural and commercial hub. Taranaki's economy is diverse and includes dairy, oil and gas. The region is the highest contributor or national GDP per capita. 

      Wellington

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      The Wellington Region covers Wellington city in the south, Upper and Lower Hutt valleys to the north-east, and Porirua to the north-west. The region takes its name from Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.

      Wellington is famous for its arts and culture scene and is also the centre of New Zealand's film industry.

      West Coast

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      The West Coast, or as some locals call it, the "Wild West", is a long thin region that runs down the South Island's west coast.

      The region has the lowest population in all of New Zealand. It is famous for its rugged natural scenery such as the Pancake Rocks, the Blue Pools of Haast, and the glaciers.

      The main industries in the region are dairy farming and mining. Tourism also plays an important role.

      Nelson – Tasman

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      Nelson Tasman is an extraordinary, vibrant region where art and businesses thrive together among a stunning natural landscape. With one in five people internationally born, Nelson Tasman has 48 different cultures living in its environs.

      The region prides its self on being New Zealand’s leading Research and Development areas, with the highest proportion of people working in the research, science and tech sectors out of anywhere in New Zealand.

      Canterbury

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      Canterbury is a region on New Zealand’s South Island marked by grassy plains, clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Its largest city, Christchurch, is famed for its art scene and green spaces.

      Otago

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      There are few places in the world which will leave you with a lasting sense of difference. Central Otago is undoubtedly one of them from its landscapes, its seasons, its people, its products and experiences.

      Marlborough

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      Marlborough Region is on the north-eastern corner of the South Island. The region is well known for its winemaking industry, and the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of coastal waterways, peninsulas and islands.

      Apart from the wine industry, aquaculture, agriculture and tourism play an important role in the local economy.

      Southland

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      Southland is New Zealand’s most southerly region and includes the World Heritage ranked Fiordland National Park.

      The region's only city Invercargill offers a relaxed pace of life with wide streets, little traffic, spacious parks and gardens, striking Victorian and Edwardian architecture and impressive sporting facilities including New Zealand’s first indoor velodrome. Southland's location is such that views of Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights are common.

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Hawke’s Bay not only about wine- also beer

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Hawke’s Bay is one of Aotearoa’s premier wine spots, drawing in tourists from across the country and around the world.

But the region has recently been making a name for itself because of its craft beer offerings, with several taprooms opening just in time for summer.

RNZ explored three local breweries to see what the fuss is about – two of them have just opened bars and and the other is due to open one later this year.

From print to pint

Giant Brewing has opened a pub in Havelock North, with the owner, former journalist Chris Ormond, switching careers to beer brewing about half a decade ago.

Ormond explained after years of working in print, including a stint in Parliament’s press gallery, his first ever beer harks back to his old job.

“The first beer I made is a New Zealand Pale Ale which we’ve abbreviated to NZPA because NZPA [New Zealand Press Association] was a company I worked for for several years in Wellington. It was deliberate and it amused some of my former work colleagues.”

It was his time in Wellington and passion for exploring beer that led him to switch careers.

“I lived in Wellington when the industry started taking off. I loved going to regional wines and spirits and stocking up on all the different beers that were coming out and it just became a bit of a hobby and when I moved to Hawke’s Bay I started homebrewing.

“I did an intensive one week brewing course in Wellington a few months on on but other than that, it’s been trial and error.”

Although he was glad to be out of the unsettled news industry, Ormond said it had been years of hard work to finally get to the point where he’s seeing the returns from his investment in beer.

“I think five years of hard graft and not much return is starting to pay off.”

He said the recent influx of craft beer breweries and bars in Hawke’s Bay is a symptom of the industry’s revival around the world and reflective of New Zealand’s changing drinking habits.

“Instead of going and buying a 12 pack of the commercial lagers, they’ll buy less of maybe a stronger and more flavourful beer.”

Revitalising the city

A few kilometres down the road is a new taproom in central Hastings, settled in the ‘eastside’ – a revived part of the city where many new speciality shops are starting up.

Brave Brewing, which has been a popular local brew for a few years, has kicked it up a notch by opening a new taproom in the area late last year.

Owner Matt Smith grew up in Hastings, but left to study audio engineering, sociology and politics in Auckland, among lots of travel.

He said he first got into beer “by accident”.

“I was travelling in America and a few friends that I was with just loved going to brew pubs and tasting different beers and just kind of geeking out on it, I don’t even think I drank beer at all at the time.

“I first got real fascinated by the science of it and just how you can pull four different ingredients together and manipulate them in a way and they naturally turn into this delicious thing.”

Returning to Hastings where he grew up, Smith transformed his home garage into a commercial brewing operation.

Now, he said he was trying to revitalise the city.

“Hastings is one of those quiet, sleepy, I don’t know, maybe slightly run down places as a kid.

“When I was 18 I just wanted to get out of here and you know, move somewhere, quote-on-quote, more interesting. But coming back 10 years later and actually investing in trying to lift the town and contribute to making it cool has been really fun.”

Bottling Europe in the Bay

Over in Eskdale, just after drivers turn off towards Taupō from Napier, sits Zeelandt, hidden in a large shed off the highway.

Brewer Christopher Barber moved here from Huapai, a small community north-west of Auckland.

When he arrived in Hawke’s Bay, he noticed one thing local hospitality was lacking – good beer.

“There’s some really great restaurants and honestly the wine was pretty good so you’d go to the restaurants, they’d have these amazing wine lists and at that time their beers were pretty poor.”

So he started producing European-style brews of his own.

His big plan for 2021 is to build a garden bar at the brewery, hoping to open it in September.

Barber said he had no regrets about the move from the big city to start from scratch – he said the key was lifestyle and family.

“We moved out of the biggest market in New Zealand, which is Auckland, and set up in a small market so that probably doesn’t make a lot of sense, but we’re a family business and we’re all about making a nice sustainable business [and] lifestyle so we’re more I guess that way inclined than hitting the big markets, export markets.”

These three brewers are encouraging visitors to Hawke’s Bay this summer not only to try the wine, but to stop off for a taste of local beer too.

 

 

SOURCE: RNZ NEWS

 

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