Mr Buck, a director of Te Mata Estate Winery, has previous industry leadership roles at regional and national level. In 2002 and 2003 he was Deputy Chair of Hawke’s Bay Winemakers, as well as serving on the New Zealand Winegrowers’ marketing committee at that time.

Kate Radburnd of CJ Pask Winery was also elected to the board at its fourth AGM held last week.
Former Hawke’s Bay Grape Grower chairman, Xan Harding was elected vice chairman.

Mr Buck sees his focus over the coming year or two being a continuation of the current push to share the Hawke’s Bay wine story with national and international consumers.“Hawke’s Bay as a wine region is really coming into its own; our profile is rising with the promotion of the variety of our wine styles to our local and overseas audiences,” he says. “I also want to ensure that all members share in the success of that message of quality wines; that they can get in behind that story and shout about their own successes.”

Ms Radburnd chaired the Hawke’s Bay Vintners in 1997 and 1998, a forerunner organisation to the current HBWG. She has been a Director of New Zealand Winegrowers since 1999, and has also held the role of Deputy Chair of The Wine Institute of NZ.

Retiring from the board along with Mr McDonald were Victoria Crowther, formerly with Mission Estate Winery, and Gus Struthers who also headed up the organisation’s Focus Research group. Mr Struthers is moving to Blenheim to take up a viticulture position there.

For further information on the new HBWG board members click here