Business Rural North Summer 2021

| 15 business lauded for its chardonnay RURAL PEOPLE » Kumeu River Wines: Brajkovich Family Kumeu River Wines’ Paul, Marijana, Michael and Milan Brajkovich. Having spent my 45 year career serving the North West Auckland Farming and Horticultural Community it is with the greatest pleasure that Westag takes this opportunity to both support and admire the success of Kumeu River Wines. I was fortunate enough to have dealt with Mate Brajkovich when he established the irst vineyard, San Marino Wines, so many years ago. The legacy and heritage of so many families who led war torn Yugoslavia ruled by the Nazis and Tito Communists has contributed immensely to the fabric of NZ Society, particularly here in West Auckland. The Yugoslavs (trans: Southern Slav’s) from Croatia, Serbia and the surrounding Balkan Territories toiled in the Gum Fields of Northland before settling on the Waitemata Clay Soils of West Auckland – a legacy now largely lost to urban sprawl and development. Establishing vineyards and orchards while settling into a community where weekend trading and drinking wine were alien to a largely Protestant population cannot have been an easy transition. To retain family ownership is a unique achievement in this era of Corporate takeover and generic commodity branding, but Melba Brajkovich and her family have succeeded and thrived in these increasingly uncertain times. Growing up and working alongside so many of these immigrant families as I have, you run short of superlatives: humble, industrious, dedicated, committed, resilient and generous. They all helped to build a better NZ. Kumeu River Wines and The Brajkovich Family have created a global enterprise more admired and respected with every vintage. Long may their legacy endure. —Phil Gillon, Westag Trading Legacy & heritage Rural Farm & Garden Supplies Agrichemicals, Fertiliser Lawn, Pasture, Vegetable & Ornamental Seeds Speciality Chemicals Soil, Plant Tissue & Water Analysis 751 State Highway 16 Waimauku, Auckland (09)411 8761 (09)411 8767 growing@westag.co.nz