New Zealand Winegrowers runs an extensive research portfolio of projects with the aim of:
'Providing and promoting a technological basis for the New Zealand grape and wine industry to remain internationally competitive as the leading producer of premium quality wines'
New Zealand Winegrowers works closely with its research partners, (primarily Plant and Food Research Ltd, Lincoln University and Auckland University) and Government funding agencies (such as; Ministry of Science (MSI) and Innovation, Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) and Primary Growth Partnership funding (PGP)) to develop large research programmes for the benefit of the New Zealand wine industry. New Zealand Winegrowers co-invests into these programmes significant levy funds to create a critical mass of research activity in the grape and wine area.
A major component of the research process is the production of outputs in the form of research reports, articles, fact sheets, and papers. Also, researchers are required to regularly report back to the Research team at NZW with an update on how the project is progressing. These are read internally only. For the update report template click here.
The New Zealand Winegrowers web pages are organised in a way that allow the outputs to be easily located in specific topic areas or by using the search function. Research reports are often very long and detailed so a brief executive summary is viewed initially and if the report is of interest to the reader the whole report can be read on line or downloaded and printed.
The Winegrowers Research Committee (WRC) is appointed by the Winegrowers Board to oversee the development and implementation of the national research programme of the New Zealand grape and wine industry.
The aim of the WRC is to provide and promote a technological basis for the New Zealand grape and wine industry to remain internationally competitive as a leading producer of premium quality wines.
The WRC is responsible for identifying and reviewing industry research needs, and determining the scope of research required to meet these needs. The WRC Research Strategy is closely aligned to the New Zealand Winegrowers Strategic Plan.
Winegrowers are a significant investor in research on behalf of the industry, and they work collaboratively and co-invest with a range of research partners to achieve the research outcomes for industry.
The Committee acts as reference group to advise on development and review specific research projects, and members of the WRC sit on various programme management teams on behalf of the industry.
The research management team undertakes all operational aspects of research programme development and management to meet the aims set out in the Research Strategy.
WRC Members
| Chair NZWine Board | Dominic Pecchenino |
| Science and Innovation Manager* | Philip Manson |
| Research Programme Manager* | Simon Hooker |
| | Andrew Frost |
| | David Jordan |
| | Emma Taylor |
| NZW Board | Richard Rose
|
| | James Dicey |
| Samantha Scarratt |
| Allan Johnson |
| | Kate Radburnd |
| Administration Assistant* | Janette McKibbin |
| *Non-voting | |
New Zealand Winegrowers does not run a strict annual funding round system for new projects and can accept proposals anytime throughout the year. However, if a research provider would like the project to start near the beginning of a new financial year (1st July) then the Expression of Interest (EoI) needs to be sent to New Zealand Winegrowers by the 15th February of that year.
In general New Zealand Winegrowers runs a two step proposal process where an applicant can fill out a relatively short EoI template that gives enough information for the committee to evaluate whether it is worth proceeding to a full proposal that ultimately would become the contract between the applicant and New Zealand Winegrowers.
Both EoIs and full proposals should be sent to Dr Simon Hooker at New Zealand Winegrowers (simon@nzwine.com).
The Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) invests in farmer, grower and forester-led projects that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to New Zealand’s land-based primary industries. For funding information please go to the SFF website. If you are thinking of applying for SFF funding please contact Dr Hooker in the first instance to discuss your project proposal.
New Zealand Winegrowers runs a high level annual strategic planning cycle that the Board signs off for each financial year. This strategic plan forms the basis for investment of the research programme and drives the overall funding of the mix of specific projects within the programme.
