On Economic Issues

The drinks industry should be treated the same as other consumer goods industries.The beer, wine and spirits industry is under threat from rising Government imposed taxes which the Council believes need to be phased out.

More than 40,000 people are directly employed by New Zealand's nationwide drinks industry; a further 100,000 work for organisations that support and service it. Many of them live in provincial and rural areas, using plant, buildings and equipment valued at in excess of $2 billion. They produce products brewed, vintnered, distilled and packaged largely from indigenous crops and raw materials, including grapes, barley, hops, malt, whey, glass and packaging. Each year, the drinks industry pays more that $500 million in excise tax.

The country's first breweries, established by European immigrants, were among the nation's earliest manufacturing businesses, processing locally grown hops and barley into beer. Today, New Zealand's beer, wine and spirits industries compete successfully in more than 50 different countries. They help underpin tourism - a leading foreign exchange earner - and support an expanding accommodation, entertainment and restaurant sector.