Wineries Connect with Tui to Town Project

Seven wineries and grape growers in Marlborough have linked up with the Marlborough District Council’s Tui to Town project – great examples of the kind of partnership the Council is keen to promote.

The importance of environmental values is acknowledged in the vision being developed to guide Marlborough’s future direction:

“Marlborough will become a globally-connected district of progressive, high-value enterprise, known for our economic efficiency, quality lifestyle, desirable location and natural environment.”

Helping to restore some of Marlborough’s past natural environment to support the native bird population is at the heart of the Tui to Town project – and the aim is to work together; Council, community and private sector, to increase the size of that natural tui habitat on public and private land.

Outgoing chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers Stuart Smith noted this was one way the wine industry could immediately pick up on the ‘Smart and Connected’ message for future growth and development.

“The wine industry as the dominant land user close to Blenheim could be encouraged to plant small areas of appropriate native species in the ephemeral streams that run through many vineyards, to hop-scotch the tui from the hills onto the valley floor and back into town,” he wrote recently.

Some wineries and grape growers are already on board: Pernod Ricard, in Jacksons Road and Brancott Road, Whitehaven Wine Company, Framingham Wines, Cloudy Bay and Villa Maria, and grape growers James Jones and Duncan Hille.

Others in the wine industry may wish to connect with the Tui to Town project. Contact Nicky Eade, Ph: 03 520 7400 for information about the guidelines for the Marlborough District Council’s Funding Assistance for Native Plant Restoration Projects on the Wairau Plains. 

See the Guidelines for Marlborough District Council’s Funding Assistance for Native Plant Restoration Projects on the Wairau Plains on the Tui Project Funding Guidelines page on this website.