15 September 2026

Hawke's Bay Business News, Profiles and Expert Advice

Sally Duncan Te Mata Estate & Hawke’s Bay Wine Growers Association

How has COVID changed how you foster/enhance your key relationships in China?

Obviously the main change is the lack of market visits but we are engaging in many online and virtual tastings in China.

How do you maintain a physical presence?

Te Mata has had a great distributor in China called Torres for 20 years now. They know us really well and they do a great job promoting the Te Mata brand on the ground in China.

How do your NZ based (or HB based) staff now interact with those that you do business with in China?

Te Mata like most businesses are zooming a lot these days. We also try to keep regular emails, phone calls going and I am very active on the Chinese social media platform, Wechat!

Are you seeing a downturn or do you remain optimistic about trade in China??

Te Mata’s been seeing strong growth for our top red wines (Coleraine, Awatea Cabernet/Merlot, Bullnose Syrah, and our new Alma Pinot Noir) across all our export markets in recent years – particularly in China. The quality from the spectacular run of great vintages – ’18, ’19 and now ’20, means that we’ve got the best wines we’ve ever made, and our markets are responding accordingly!

Damon Harvey is the Editor and Publisher of The Profit, Hawke’s Bay’s leading business magazine, and the person behind The Profit Unleashed, the region’s most talked-about business event series. With more than 20 years across journalism, marketing, PR and content, Damon founded The Profit with a clear purpose: to celebrate the businesses and people driving Hawke’s Bay forward. The magazine and the events that have followed are built on the belief that great local stories deserve a great platform. Alongside his wife Anna Lorck, Damon is a Director of Attn! Marketing PR, a strategic communications agency working with organisations that want to build trust, strengthen reputation and get real results. He brings serious governance credentials to everything he does. Currently Chair of Gemco Construction, he previously chaired Sport Hawke’s Bay and spent nine years as a Hastings District Councillor, where he focused on community and economic development. When he’s not chasing a story or a swell, Damon can usually be found on a mountain bike trail or spending time with family and friends. Got a story worth telling? Reach Damon at 021 2886 772 or damon@attn.co.nz

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