King Colin: Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits)  Registration Bill — In Committee 
King Colin: Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits)  Registration Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:635;Page:6239] 
COLIN KING (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to stand and speak to the Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Bill and speaking as the member for Kaikoura which encompasses that beautiful area of Marlborough that grows 60 percent of New Zealand’s grapes I see this bill as highly important. I also pay tribute to the maturity that has developed over a number of years within the industry and I pay tribute to how that maturity has taken a great step forward on the world stage. At a time when Australia is pulling out grape vines we are still maintaining very high prices for our product on export in those countries of the world that can afford to pay it. 
It is significant to note that we are moving in Marlborough to an area of some 20000 hectares which will be achieved in the near future. There are say 70 outstanding brands in that region. However what we are finding is increased pressure from multinationals as we go forward. They do a good job but they too want to see that we maintain the unique natures of those geographical indications that are reflected in the soil types. I am told that our soil types in New Zealand are young as opposed to those European wines such as those grown in Bordeaux Champagne and suchlike or Chianti. It is so very important that we maintain their integrity and do not allow that to be affected by the fact that we are being bought out by some very large operators one of which is Pernod Ricard which owns 30 brands of wine and which draws on 5900 hectares of grapes within the Marlborough region. When I spoke about 15 months ago to the general manager of Montana which is one of the company’s brands in this country the manager said the company was still importing more sauvignon blanc than it was purchasing in Marlborough. Therein lies the risk: we have to have in place good solid international regulations around what can be called a Marlborough sauvignon blanc. So I would put back to the member from New Zealand First that we are not dealing in cooperative models like Fonterra or PPCS and meat companies. We are actually dealing with a product that could easily and subtly be watered down with product from outside. 
It is quite significant that when one looks throughout New Zealand one sees that we have some outstanding regions. We have the Martinborough area in the Wairarapa where John Hayes represents the National Party—he is a very good member indeed. We have Waipara in North Canterbury and we have Marlborough. We have Central Otago the Hawke’s Bay and Nelson. These regions are all uniquely different. They specialise in different grapes; what grows remarkably well in the Hawke’s Bay does not do quite so well in Marlborough and on that basis we have to protect the entrepreneurship and investment of those viticulturists. 
It is appropriate then that we see that the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights is entered into. On that basis we should adhere to it not only for the integrity wrapped around the 85 percent factor but from the point of view that those people who continue to invest in viticulture in New Zealand which will continue to grow can have the certainty that where they buy they can guarantee that if that name is held up with integrity around those international agreements their investments will be future-proofed. 
I wish the bill all the very best as we are prepared to support it but I strongly recommend that members look at giving the responsibility to the industry of being able to set up those particular geographical indications boundaries. Industry members are the ones who know the very intricacies of the wine industry and as such we should welcome their expertise onside so that they know from the inside just what is going on. If we do not allow them that then there will be every chance of diluting those brands and allowing them to drift off into insignificance and those who have changed from one land use—like pastoral farming—into the viticulture industry will lose those returns.