New Zealand Winegrowers Fellows

1. Individuals who are to receive industry honours shall meet the following criteria:

a. Individuals must have been involved in the New Zealand grape and wine industry in one or more of the following capacities:

• As a levy paying member of NZW i.e. a grapegrower or winery owner or as an employee of a levy paying member of NZW.
• As a Director of NZW or member of a Committee of NZW or an employee of NZW.
• As a Director (Board member) or Committee member of a regional winegrowing organisation recognised by NZW.
• As a Director (Board member) or Committee member of a grape and wine industry organisation formally recognised by NZ Winegrowers eg Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand with whom NZW has an MOU.
• As a researcher, contractor, or provider of services to the industry or to NZW.
• As a marketer, sales person, importer, distributor, retailer, restaurateur, or wine commentator associated with the NZ industry or NZW.
• Or any other activity directly related to the NZ grape and wine industry or NZW.

b. The individual must be well respected and of good standing in the industry. They must have displayed high ethical standards and must not have brought the industry into disrepute at any time.

c. The individual may still be active in the industry but shall not be a current Director of NZW nor a current employee of NZW.

2. The contribution(s) for which the individual is to be recognised shall have been of benefit to the national grape and wine industry and/or to national industry organisations (NB contributions which are regionally, but not nationally important, should be recognised at the regional level.)

3. An honour shall only be conferred on those persons who have provided meritorious service to and/or contributed to the development of the NZ grape and wine industry and/or industry organisations, and who are distinguished by their eminence, talents, innovation or contributions.

4. Nominees may reside in New Zealand or overseas.

5. Honours shall not be awarded posthumously, except if the recipient dies after the honour has been agreed by the Board (in accordance with the process set out below) but before the honour has been conferred on the recipient.

New Zealand Winegrowers shall conduct the process of nomination, appointment and induction of Fellows in accordance with the following:

1. Nominations for industry honours may be made by:

a) The Board of NZ Winegrowers.

b) Regional winegrower organisations that receive funding directly or indirectly from NZW.

c) Other grape and wine industry organisations with whom NZW has a formal working relationship e.g. Organic Winegrowers of New Zealand with whom NZW has an MOU.

d) Individual members of NZW, provided such nomination is supported by the written endorsement of at least 5 other members.

2. The nomination should specify why the person being nominated is deserving of special recognition and how they meet the criteria laid down (above) for industry honours.

3. Nominations should be received no later than May 20 in each year.

4. The Board of NZW will establish an Honours Committee to consider nominations for honours, such committee shall include the Chair, Deputy Chair and the CEO and such other Directors or other persons as the Board considers appropriate. The CEO shall not have a vote on the committee.

5. The Honours Committee shall consider the nominations on the information provided in the nominations, but may seek such other additional information as it feels necessary and appropriate to obtain.

6. The Honours Committee shall report back to the Board with its recommendations for industry honours at the June meeting of the Board. The Honours Committee is not required to make any recommendation for industry honours if they do not believe the nominees are deserving of the honour.

7. The decision of the Board will be made in accordance with Board voting practice. The decision of the Board will be final and no correspondence shall be entered into by the Board with any nominees other than those who have received the Board’s endorsement.

8. Successful nominees should be advised of the decision of the Board by 30 June each year and invited to accept the industry honour.

9. Industry honours will be conferred at an industry function as is decided by the Board.