And the award goes to …
It actually accounts for almost 1% of New Zealand's GDP according to a report earlier this year by the Brewers Association.
But who brews the best of the best?
Tina Panoutsos, Head Judge at this year's New Zealand Beer Awards being held in Christchurch tonight, speaks to Susie about what ticks the taste test.
Photo:
Unsplash / Lucas Santos
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NZ Herald
11 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Takapuna Beach Cafe: The cafe worker who went from front of house to owning the house
He left to open central city cafe Major Sprout, which was owned by David Lee, before coming back to the Hipgroup to be operations manager at the Takapuna Beach Cafe and Richmond Road Cafe in Grey Lynn. Describing them as the best in the game at the time, Bryant said Hipgroup was sophisticated in terms of its operations and systems. Because of its focus on customer service and internal growth, he said the group became a springboard for many people who launched successful hospitality ventures of their own, including himself. Bryant was drawn to buying the now 17-year-old business in 2019 because he was familiar with its operations. It was a nervous decision to take the next step, but with financial backing from members of his family, Bryant won out over five other groups that were keen on purchasing the business. Takapuna Beach Cafe has a sit-down restaurant and takeaway options. Photo / Michael Craig The beachfront business has nearly 500 customers daily, whether that's in its sit-down restaurant or through its takeaway and ice cream offerings. With roughly 60 staff on the payroll, the business has launched several new products, including gelato that is made from scratch. Bryant has also put his own stamp on the cafe. 'I've brought more production in-house than before, making sure that what we've done on-site we make on-site,' he said. The cafe's opening hours have recently been extended to 8pm with a new dinner menu and New Zealand-focused wine list. That's been possible thanks to the business' newly acquired liquor licence, allowing for craft beer to be served with hot chips or some champagne with freshly shucked oysters. Although, as Bryant said, the licence didn't come easily. 'It was a complex process to secure our alcohol licence and ended up taking close to five years. Given our location so close to the beach, this added another layer of complexity. 'We feel that when the process becomes this convoluted it can put a lot of unnecessary pressure on small business owners. The irony was that people could legally enjoy a drink just a few metres away at the park but not with a meal at the cafe.' Bryant said the community's support during the process was incredible and reflected how residents back small businesses in the area. 'Hospitality is tough' Bryant is hopeful business will continue to pick up thanks to growing tourism in the area, but said there had been challenges in the past few years. He said post-pandemic costs for the business have increased by double digits, and it's meant prices for its products have had to increase too. 'As long as it's explained why that increase has happened, it's coupled with a service expansion. 'One of the biggest learnings from Covid was that supply was real tight, so it was making sure there was back-up supply. It's also making sure the products we have are true to their flavour. For example, you can't substitute butter in a certain product.' With more than 120 suppliers to juggle, Bryant said he sees his relationship with them as a partnership, whether that was with those providing fruit or the seven different seafood suppliers from the local area. Having worked in the industry for most of his career, Bryant said the biggest change had come with social media and the influence of online reviews. Despite the challenges, Bryant has no plans to slow down. While in the short term the focus will be on growing the evening service and customer base, he is also planning to host a fish-and-chip pop-up store for the second time over the coming summer. And it doesn't stop there. Bryant is also the owner of Knead on Benson, an artisan bakery and cafe located in Remuera. The sister-business is set for expansion, with Bryant sharing his hope to grow the business in the retail and wholesale space – potentially as a competitor to other brands such as Daily Bread. 'For Knead, in particular, we truly believe in our product there and we have some customers that would love to also sell our products too.' There is also the opportunity to add an evening service to its repertoire, with Bryant keen to maximise the available space. Across Takapuna Beach Cafe and Knead on Benson, Bryant reiterated that their success was down to the staff. 'They are huge to the identity of the business. I think that's the biggest reward is being able to retain our staff throughout everything. 'Some of our team here have been here for 15 years, longer than me, but being able to have that experience, that knowledge is truly a massive asset for us.' Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Record win for Brave Brewing Co with five awards at 2025 New Zealand Beer Awards
The brewery was founded by Matt and Gemma Smith, who started out selling their beer at farmers' markets in 2013, before shifting to permanent premises in Hastings CBD in 2020. Gemma Smith told Hawke's Bay Today the team was rapt. 'We are incredibly humbled by the awards and just so proud of our hard-working and dedicated team,' she said. Judges at the New Zealand Beer Awards in Christchurch. Photo / RNZ 'We showed up hoping to achieve some consistency, and perhaps nab a gold medal for our best-loved beer, Tigermilk IPA. So this has totally blown us away. 'We are a very regionally-focused brewery and Hawke's Bay consumes most of our beer. We are so incredibly grateful to the people of Hawke's Bay that have always supported us and cheered us on. They have helped us grow in so many ways.' It is the first time in 18 years that one brewery has collected three beer category trophies. Matt Smith said the team had been 'hyper-focused' on the 'little details' this year and had made 'incremental steps towards brewing the best possible beer'. 'So having this feedback from some of the best judging palates in the country and winning these awards has been so validating.' New Zealand's brewers are embracing new ingredients and styles, head judge Tina Panoutsos said. 'We've seen different ingredients used creatively and represented across a range of styles from fruit and flavoured, European ales and experimental classes. 'There's a trend toward using a range of fruits like the native Horopito and stone fruits to influence texture and complexity.' Wellington brewery Garage Project added to its trophy cabinet, collecting four prizes and the highest number of medals of any entrant – 10 gold, 11 silver and six bronze. Garage Project was also named Champion New Zealand Large Brewery and won two beer category trophies: British & European Ale and Wood & Barrel Aged. Matakana independent brewery Sawmill won the Brewing Sustainability Award for the sixth consecutive year. The New Zealand Medium Brewery winner is Altitude Brewing, from Queenstown. Altitude also took home two beer category trophies – New Zealand Lager & New Zealand Pilsner and the Juicy/Hazy IPA Trophy. New Zealand Beer Awards 2025 Karamu Barrelworks, Champion New Zealand Micro Brewery Brave Brewing Co, Champion New Zealand Small Brewery Altitude Brewing, Champion New Zealand Medium Brewery Garage Project, Champion New Zealand Large Brewery Brave Brewing Co, Champion New Zealand Brewing Company bStudio, Champion New Zealand Manufacturer Garage Project, Chance, Luck and Magic 2021, Champion New Zealand Beer – RNZ, additional reporting Hawke's Bay Today
RNZ News
13 hours ago
- RNZ News
Government has 'no intention whatsoever' to close NorthTec, Northland MP promises
NorthTec has campuses in Whangārei, Auckland, Kaitāia, Kerikeri and Ngāwhā, near Kaikohe (pictured). Photo: Peter de Graaf Northland MP Grant McCallum says the government has "no intention whatsoever" of closing down the region's polytechnic - despite being listed among institutes facing potential closure or merger as part of the break-up of mega-polytech Te Pūkenga . Revelations last week about NorthTec's uncertain future, as well as a fresh round of course and staff cuts, sparked concerns among tutors, students and industry. The news also drew more than 100 people to a public meeting at the main campus in Whangārei, but McCallum told RNZ closure of NorthTec was not on the cards. "Northland needs vocational training and NorthTec's got an important part to play in that, but it's got to be able to stand up on its own two feet and be credible," he said. "That's our goal. "It's just taking a bit longer, because it's got a chequered past and we've got to work through all that." McCallum said the exact form NorthTec would take was not yet clear, but it would still include satellite campuses in places such as Kaitāia and Kaikohe, which were essential for the widely dispersed Northland region. Northland MP Grant McCallum says he will fight to keep NorthTec open. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf He said Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds understood the importance of regional training facilities such as NorthTec, because of her long association with the Southern Institute of Technology. NorthTec would not say how many courses and jobs were included in the restructuring proposal, saying the final numbers had yet to be determined. However, according to the Tertiary Education Union, courses facing the chop included forestry, primary industries, pest control and apiculture (beekeeping). McCallum said that was an operational decision for NorthTec management. "As a local MP, what I would be expecting is sectors like the primary sector, which is one of our biggest in Northland, will have courses available. We just have to make sure they're the right ones." At the public hui, it was claimed the forestry industry had been blindsided by the proposal to drop forestry courses. McCallum said the government was conscious of those claims and NorthTec would be in touch with the affected sectors. While the final decision was the minister's, McCallum said he would fight to keep NorthTec open. "What it looks like going forward and the courses it offers, that has yet to be determined, because it has to be a sustainable, credible organisation." NorthTec operations lead Derek Slatter said the organisation was currently consulting staff over proposed changes to teaching and support roles. "The number of positions impacted will be dependent on the final decisions made following the full consultation process," he said. "The proposed changes are designed to address issues of financial sustainability and to forge a pathway towards financial viability for NorthTec, enabling us to continue delivering high-quality education and training." Slatter acknowledged staff had been through a prolonged period of change and uncertainty, and that would continue, as NorthTec became financially viable. "However, I am confident that viability is within our reach," he said. Slatter said enrolments for semester two were higher than this time last year and applications for 2026 were also up. Earlier, Minister Penny Simmonds said the government's aim was to build a vocational education system that was "locally led, regionally responsive and financially sustainable, including for Northland". Ten of the institutes merged by the previous government into Te Pūkenga would be returned to standalone, regionally-governed polytechnics. The future of polytechnics in four regions - Northland, Taranaki, Wellington and the West Coast - would be decided in the first half of 2026. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
