The China-based World Alcohol Beverage Alliance (WABA) has just announced its first overseas honorary consular appointment. It is in New Zealand, where Terence (Terry) Dunleavy MBE will become Honorary Consul for WABA.
Making the announcement in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou Province, where WABA was formed in 2014, its Secretary-General Dr. Chen Ze Min said New Zealand was an appropriate first choice because in 2008 that country became the first developed country to establish a formal Free Trade Agreement with the People’s Republic of China.
The goals of the Alliance are to unite members of the alcoholic beverages industry involved in production, distribution, scientific research, training, and other alcohol industry related elements so as to promote the growth and sustainability of the industry. WABA was formed in Guiyang, China on the initiative of more than 300 alcohol industry related associations and organizations representing 60 countries.
“We were pleased to have Mr Dunleavy as our guest in Guiyang recently for our first anniversary general meeting,” said Secretary-General Dr. Chen. “It soon became obvious to us that his long involvement as inaugural CEO of the Wine Institute of New Zealand, and his contributions to the initiation and amazing export growth of the New Zealand wine industry, made him a logical choice not only to represent WABA in his country, but also to offer us here in China the benefit of his advice as we further develop our own domestic alcohol beverages industries.”
Terry Dunleavy, 87, was the founding CEO of the Wine Institute of New Zealand when it commenced operations on 1 October 1976. He has been credited with inspiring the industry to take up exporting and led the first promotional forays into Australia, UK and USA. After his retirement in 1991, he became director of the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards in 1993 (until 2020-13) and was founding editor of the industry’s trade magazine, New Zealand WineGrower 1997 to 2012.
He was honoured with Membership of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1990, fellowship of the Wine Institute in 1996, installed in the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame in 2009, and was made an honorary life member of the UK Circle of Wine Writers in 2013. He is based in Hauraki, Auckland.
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December,10, 2015
