Media Releases

Here you'll find all the latest media releases from Hawke's Bay Tourism.

If you have any questions regarding these releases please contact Ben Hutton, Marketing Manager.

Kate Radburnd Named F.A.W.C! Hawke’s Bay Legend 2024

Hawke’s Bay Tourism, in conjunction with Cuisine Magazine, is thrilled to announce that Kate Radburnd has been named the F.A.W.C! Hawke’s Bay Legend 2024....

Best Of Wine Tourism award winners announced

The winners of the inaugural Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism awards were unveiled last night, recognising four Hawke's Bay businesses for their outstanding contributions to the wine tourism industry across seven categories. ...

Raise a glass of Hawke's Bay on 23 May

This Thursday, raise a glass of Hawke’s Bay’s finest and join the region in celebrating the first anniversary of its Great Wine Capital status. ...

Toast to trio named for first Great Wine Capitals Knowledge Exchange!

Three members of the Hawke’s Bay wine industry have become the first recipients of the Great Wine Capitals Knowledge Exchange Programme. ...

Inaugural Best of Wine Tourism Awards open for entries

Hawke’s Bay businesses can now enter the internationally-recognised Best Of Wine Tourism awards programme. ...

Dish of the Bay serves up month-long celebration

Dish of the Bay is back for its second year and better than ever! ...

Summer F.A.W.C! serves up mouthwatering menu

Hawke's Bay’s iconic F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic has today launched a sumptuous programme laden with culinary superstars, award-winning winemakers and truly spectacular events. ...

Nine regional events receive funding

Nine events have received funding from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Events Fund, including $25,000 for Horse of the Year. Event organisers and promoters of 17 events applied to the one-off event fund, with the full $100,000 allocated across the nine recipients.
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Scoop up the taste of summer in Hawke's Bay

It’s never been easier to sample a true taste of summer with New Zealand’s oldest ice creamery Rush Munro’s launching four new ‘Hawke’s Bay’ flavours just in time for the festive season....

Hawke's Bay Tourism launches new summer campaign

Hawke’s Bay Tourism has launched its biggest-ever marketing campaign aimed at attracting visitors to the region for a bumper summer. ...

A welcome return as cruise sails back to Hawke's Bay

Hawke’s Bay is anticipating its biggest cruise season ever with more than 130,000 cruise visitors expected to call at Napier Port between November 2023 and April 2024. ...

Hawke's Bay Tourism vying for national award

Hawke’s Bay Tourism has been announced as a finalist at the New Zealand Tourism Awards, taking place in Wellington Tuesday, November 5. ...

New funds to assist in recovery of cyclone-hit visitor economy

Hawke’s Bay Tourism is extremely grateful for new funding from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment’s Vote Business, Science and Innovation: Cyclone fund to assist in the recovery of the visitor economy following Cyclone Gabrielle in February. ...

Devour Dish of the Bay at Winter F.A.W.C!

Dish of the Bay is a signature dish initiative designed to champion Hawke’s Bay produce and showcase why our region is New Zealand’s Food and Wine Country. ...

Hawke's Bay crowned 12th Great Wine Capital of the World

Hawke’s Bay was today named a Great Wine Capital of the world, setting it alongside eleven other prestigious wine regions such as Bordeaux (France), Napa Valley (USA), Bilbao (Spain) and Adelaide (Australia)....

Tenth Winter F.A.W.C! set to be hotter than ever

Winter F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic is back for its tenth year and set to be hotter than ever with more than 50 events running across Hawke’s Bay throughout June. ...

Hawke's Bay extends warm welcome to autumn visitors

Visitors heading to Hawke’s Bay this Easter and school holidays will be met with a very warm welcome from the visitor economy, locals and Sir Rod Stewart himself. ...

Cruise re-start confirmed as Hawke’s Bay looks to support its cyclone recovery efforts

The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle has been devastating for the Hawke’s Bay region and these are challenging times for our community. ...

Advice on travelling to Hawke's Bay

Hawke’s Bay is currently under a State of Emergency, however some parts of the region remain safe and operational. If you are thinking of visiting the Bay, whether for business, leisure or to check on family and friends, we encourage you to read through the information at the link below...

Hawke’s Bay Presents Food and Wine Country – A Culinary Journey

Behind-the-scenes series launches today with more than 20 recipes. Hawke’s Bay Tourism and acclaimed chef James Beck are showcasing the beating heart of Hawke’s Bay Food and Wine Country in a new online series launching today....

New Festival Launches In Hawke’s Bay – Tickets on sale now

Tickets are on sale for New Zealand’s newest food and wine festival – Harvest Hawke’s Bay. The inaugural event will take place on April 1, 2023, in a spectacular riverside location, nestled beneath Te Mata Peak in the Tukituki Valley.

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2022 Tourism Wrap Up

Op-Ed by Hamish Saxton, Chief Executive of Hawke’s Bay Tourism

In yet another rollercoaster year for Hawke’s Bay’s visitor economy, it’s hard to believe how far we have come.
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Kim Thorp named F.A.W.C! Hawke’s Bay Legend

Hawke’s Bay Tourism, in conjunction with Cuisine Magazine, is delighted to announce the second ever F.A.W.C! Hawke’s Bay Legend is Kim Thorp. ...

Celebrations as cruise returns to Hawke’s Bay

The Labour Day arrival of the Ovation of the Seas, the largest ship to sail to Hawke’s Bay this season, is the final step in significant work by cruise operators and local stakeholders to ensure a safe and welcome return to cruising. ...

Summer F.A.W.C! serves up mouthwatering menu

A cornerstone of the New Zealand foodie calendar, Summer F.A.W.C! 2022 will see Hawke’s Bay’s talented producers, artisans, chefs, winemakers and craft brewers line up alongside some of Australasia’s most notable food and beverage icons. ...

Spring Fling puts Central Hawke's Bay on display

Capturing the true essence of this enchanting ‘hidden gem’ of Hawke’s Bay, Spring Fling showcases food, wine, adventure and local culture, all set against some truly stunning landscapes. ...

The search for Hawke's Bay Legends 2022

Hawke’s Bay Tourism and Cuisine Magazine to honour food and drink visionaries....

F.A.W.C! Winter warmers are here

12 April 2022

Winter F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic is back and hotter than ever with more than 45 events running throughout Hawke’s Bay in June. ...

Sir Graeme Avery named F.A.W.C!’s first Hawke’s Bay Legend

15 March 2022

Hawke’s Bay Tourism, in conjunction with Cuisine Magazine, is delighted to announce the inaugural F.A.W.C! Hawke’s Bay Legend is Sir Graeme Avery. ...

Phased border reopening good news for Hawke’s Bay visitor economy

3 February 2022

Today’s announcement on a phased border reopening is fantastic news for the region’s visitor economy, says Hawke’s Bay Tourism Chief Executive Hamish Saxton. ...

Your Central Hawke's Baycation awaits

6 December 2021

Planning your Central Hawke’s Baycation has never been easier thanks to a new online resource that showcases the very best of this spectacular part of Food and Wine Country. ...

Hawke’s Bay Tourism announces fresh plan to promote region’s cycleways

28 October 2021

Year-round promotion of new multi-day cycle journey to replace one-day Big Easy event...

Op-ed by Hamish Saxton, Chief Executive at Hawke’s Bay Tourism

6 October 2021

The emergence of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in New Zealand has landed a brutal blow on the events sector. ...

Summer F.A.W.C! postponed until January 2022

6 October 2021

Hawke’s Bay Tourism is disappointed to announce that due to the ongoing uncertainty and risks associated with the Delta variant of Covid-19, Summer F.A.W.C! will be postponed until January 28 – February 6, 2022....

F.A.W.C!’s 10th anniversary one for the record books

14 September 2021

November’s Food and Wine Classic (F.A.W.C!) is already breaking records, with 17 events selling out today, the most ever recorded during a Summer Series pre-sales release...

F.A.W.C! to turn 10 with star-studded line-up

31 August 2021

Hawke’s Bay’s Food and Wine Classic (F.A.W.C!) will achieve a huge milestone this summer, celebrating 10 years of the region’s signature culinary festival...

Hawke’s Bay records highest annual visitor card spend

5 August 2021

Hawke’s Bay has recorded its highest ever annual tourism electronic card transaction (TECT) spend despite an absence of international tourism for most of the 2020-2021 financial year...

Central Hawke’s Bay blooms with spectacular Spring Fling line up

29 July 2021

Capturing the true essence of this enchanting part of Hawke’s Bay, Spring Fling showcases the very best food, wine, adventure, culture and history that Central Hawke’s Bay has to offer...

Daring Deco is back!

5 July 2021

Grab your coats, hats and fur wraps and get cosy with the sophisticated and stylish, as the Winter Deco Festival takes centre stage this July in Hawke’s Bay...

New Zealand Cider Festival coming to Hawke's Bay

16 June 2021

First event announced for 10th anniversary of Summer F.A.W.C! - New Zealand Cider Festival coming to Hawke’s Bay...

Winter F.A.W.C!'s Foodie Feeding Frenzy

20 April 2021

F.A.W.C! 2021 Winter Series is already breaking records with 17 events sold out by 3pm on the day of the highly anticipated ticket presale...

The Search for Hawke's Bay's Food and Wine Legends Begins

19 April 2021

Hawke’s Bay Tourism has teamed up with Cuisine Magazine to honour the legends of Hawke’s Bay’s food and beverage industries...

Winter F.A.W.C! Ready to be Devoured

14 April 2021

Winter F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic is back for an eighth year and foodies can now devour its deliciously hot programme of more than 40 events...

Food and Wine Country Awaits

23 February 2021

Foodies assemble. Your pilgrimage to Food & Wine Country is now easier than ever thanks to the release of a comprehensive online guide to Hawke’s Bay’s unmissable eats...

Associated Art Deco events still on in Hawke's Bay

18 February 2021

Range of Art Deco-inspired events going ahead this weekend despite festival cancellation...