The wine, craft beer and liquor industries are a thriving part of the New Zealand economy.

For many years now New Zealand wine has quite rightfully been recognized as world-class. Increasingly, the craft beer industry is also being recognized as setting the global standards, which like our wine industry is due in no small part to the climate which allows us to grow some of the most sought after varieties.

As the demand for fine wine and craft beer has grown, so has the complexity and structure of the businesses that produce, market, distribute and sell them. This coupled with the expansion of the export markets for both wine and beer has led to an increase in the requirement for legal assistance.

Our team advises clients on all issues associated with wine, beer and liquor industries, ranging from regulatory compliance, intellectual property, marketing and labelling requirements, environmental and resource management issues, health and safety issues, commercial contracting, mergers and acquisitions, and dispute issues.

Our experts also provide commercially focused and strategic advice on brand development and protection, as well as the reputational and regulatory risks associated with the promotion and sale of wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages. We will ensure you maintain compliance not only with the relevant liquor licensing laws, but also all the relevant advertising controls, including the ASA's Code for Advertising and Promotion of Alcohol and discounting of liquor pricing.

We also provide advice to off-shore organisations looking to sell wine, beer or liquor to New Zealand, and offer expertise on the market requirements to enable this to be done successfully.

Insights

The art of the deal. FTA creates new possibilities in Europe

July 7, 2022

New Zealand: The wrapping paper of the nation’s newest free trade agreement is now on the floor. What do we have, exactly, in the new EU/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (EU/NZ FTA), and what outcomes may we expect?

The fettering of “feta” and other product names under the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement

July 6, 2022

New Zealand has secured a free trade deal with the EU, which is set to remove barriers to trade by eliminating tariffs for certain exporters. As part of the exchange, New Zealand’s existing geographical indications (GIs) regime will expand from wines and spirits to also cover food.

Changes afoot for freshwater management

September 16, 2020

New Zealand: There have been some changes to watch in the freshwater policy space, with recent amendments made to the Resource Management Act (RMA) on 30 June to establish a new “freshwater planning process”, and put in place new requirements to prepare “freshwater farm plans”.