Pōkeno Whisky continues native wood cask range, works to put New Zealand on whisky map
NZME's On The Up is a national campaign showcasing amazing stories of inspiration, success, courage and possibilities. This is the story of Pōkeno Whisky, whose team have had a busy few years since the Waikato Herald caught up with them last.
A strong, sweet and woody alcohol scent
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Amid bleak news, community generosity shines through
Upheaval is occurring in myriad regions. It is enough to make one turn away in despair. Here at home, we have our own issues, even if we are spared the horrors of war. The economy continues to languish. In May, consumer confidence fell amid global tariff uncertainty. Put simply, we are not spending. NZME business editor Liam Dann explained it last week: we are not spending, deferring in favour of saving or paying down our mortgages – just in case. Many industries, he said, are facing structural upheaval as artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological advances shake up the workforce. The brunt of this is being felt by people who should be at the peak of their spending power – particularly older professionals who are now unsure about their career prospects to retirement. So, yes, things seem bleak. But there remains those good news stories that manage to pierce the gloom; stories that restore our faith in humanity, our communities and each other. NZME's On The Up (OTU) campaign has highlighted a lot of these. The national campaign showcases stories of inspiration, success, courage and possibilities. A number of stories in just the past week embody all of these: Rotorua joined the national drive to collect a million cans for foodbanks; a Kaitāia cafe is offering free meals to tackle homelessness; Central Hawke's Bay teen Eve Hunter fashioned her ball gown from feed sacks and baling twine. The Northern Advocate told the story of 64-year-old John, living in a tent and unable to get social housing, despite his situation being deemed seriously at risk and in need of immediate action. He has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma and is on a sickness benefit. He also has two elderly dogs, Max and Rusta. After John's plight was highlighted – help poured in. He received a dozen emails with offers of cheap cabins and places to stay, along with donations of food and bedding for him and his dogs. One woman from Christchurch ordered new dog bedding, pet blankets, dog food and dog jackets for Max and Rusta, and a woman from Auckland donated $200 for the dogs. John also had offers of food and bedding for himself. Perhaps best of all, he now has a small cabin to rent, provided by a fellow Northland resident. So, if there was any doubt there is good in the world this should help. Despite all the bad, people will always reach out to help one another if they can. Sign up to the Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
12-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Pōkeno Whisky continues native wood cask range, works to put New Zealand on whisky map
NZME's On The Up is a national campaign showcasing amazing stories of inspiration, success, courage and possibilities. This is the story of Pōkeno Whisky, whose team have had a busy few years since the Waikato Herald caught up with them last. A strong, sweet and woody alcohol scent
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Scoop
Pōkeno Whisky Appoints Dhall & Nash As On-Trade Distributor For New Zealand
With a growing global reputation for quality and creativity, Pkenos whiskies can now be enjoyed in over 25 markets worldwide. Award-winning New Zealand single malt whisky distillery, The Pōkeno Whisky Company, has appointed specialist liquor distributor Dhall and Nash Fine Wines to help build its presence across the domestic on-trade market. With a growing global reputation for quality and creativity, Pōkeno's whiskies can now be enjoyed in over 25 markets worldwide. And while it continues to expand into other international markets, Pōkeno founder and owner Matt Johns says the move to appoint Dhall and Nash underlines a commitment to sharing their journey of discovery with whisky lovers here in Aotearoa. 'I'm delighted that Dhall and Nash will be distributing Pōkeno Whisky to the on-premise market in New Zealand. As two family-owned businesses, we share very similar values around building and maintaining strong relationships, and their expert team is highly motivated to continue growing the market for our fantastic range of creative single malts,' says Matt. Dhall & Nash co-founder, Puneet Dhall, says he is excited to add Pōkeno to a portfolio that comprises some of the finest wine and spirits from across the globe. 'When Matt showed me around his distillery, which is one of the finest I've seen, the decision to work together was a relative formality. I'm a Punjabi boy from London steeped in the tradition of great whisky, and I can say with hand on heart that these single malts are world class – and we can't wait to showcase these exceptional and unique wonders to the good and great of New Zealand hospitality.' Dhall and Nash will distribute Pōkeno's full range of single malt whiskies. These include the signature range of Origin, Discovery, and Revelation; the Exploration Series, which includes the world's first single malt whisky to be finished in Totara casks; and its growing portfolio of special limited editions. The on-trade distribution partnership will complement Pōkeno's growing off-premise business, driven by its exclusive relationship with Liquorland.
