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The DSA represents a community of distilled spirits manufacturers, along with associated groups and individuals, all passionate about showcasing New Zealand-made spirits and advocating for the collective interests of local producers. Our purpose is to protect the integrity and authenticity of New Zealand-made distilled spirits, champion the shared interests of local distillers, and promote our products both nationally and internationally. We also encourage responsible consumption, set industry standards for quality and consistency, and foster professional development through education, collaboration, and information sharing. |
Our Board
Distilled Spirits Aotearoa affairs of the organisation are managed by the DSA board elected by the DSA members at the Annual General Meeting. The Distilled Spirits Aotearoa Board is: |
Henry Caulton - Chair/Treasurer Henry is a Chartered Accountant with over 12 years of experience working in the accounting and finance industry including 10 years of Corporate Finance, M&A, FP&A and investment analysis experience. He started his career at PwC (Audit) and then KPMG (Corporate Finance) in Auckland. After moving to London in 2016, he started working for a large UK based Private Office (>£1bn), and then worked for a SaaS tech startup and helped them raise growth capital via IPO and listing on the UK AIM. After technology he moved to coffee – working with Black Sheep Coffee (the fastest growing specialty coffee company in the UK) as CFO and a Non-Executive Director on the Board. He returned to NZ and is now based in Arrowtown, where he has been working as the CFO for Cardrona Distillery since 2022. |
Jo James - Secretary Jo James is a founding member of Distilled Spirits Aotearoa and co-founder of Juno Gin, one of New Zealand’s more established distilleries. She has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s values and community. Jo has led open-source research with Massey University into distilling and botanicals, helping growers connect with both domestic and international markets. She collaborates with distilleries to develop award-winning recipes, while her partner Dave designs innovative, zero-waste stills built locally in New Plymouth—advancing technical expertise within Aotearoa’s engineering and spirits sectors. Together, they are deeply committed to the industry’s growth and success. |
Soren Crabb Soren Crabb has lived in Auckland for the last 10 years. He is currently Head Distiller & owner of 1919 Distilling, and before this worked in the tourism sector overseas for 9 years. Soren has been a member of the DSA Board for over 4 years and has made significant contributions to the team, from the DSA Conference, to Excise and everything in between. |
Matt has worked in the Global Whisky Industry for almost 30 years. Together with his wife Celine, he founded the Pokeno Whisky Company in 2017. Dedicated to crafting only the finest single malts out of local ingredients, Matt and the team pride themselves in creating innovative and creative whiskies, which are a reflection the culture and climate of New Zealand. |
Richard the Co‑Founder and co‑owner of Waiheke Whiskey, where he has led the development of two distilleries from concept to full production. His responsibilities span distillery design, equipment fabrication, brewing, distilling, maturation, product development, packaging, and procurement. He also operates the Waiheke Honey Company, which evolved from a successful beekeeping hobby into a premium brand targeted at the island’s tourism and gift market. Earlier in his career, he owned 3DC, a commercial interior design and fit‑out business delivering projects across retail, hospitality, medical, and service‑sector environments. His Architectural Drafting background supports this work with strong technical capability in spatial planning and functional design. Richard worked extensively in retail sales, developing strong customer‑facing skills, the ability to read people, and a practical understanding of how physical environments influence behaviour and purchasing decisions. Ricahrd's career reflects hands‑on problem‑solving, product development, and leadership across multiple regulated and customer‑driven industries. |
Jack Walters is the founder and Executive Director of Pungent Pukeko Distilling Co., a small craft gin distillery in the Waikato. The distillery grew out of a long‑standing passion for science, shiny copper, and the challenge of developing complex, layered flavours, and Jack has been distilling for the past three years. Jack works primarily as a secondary school teacher of music, mathematics and science, and in the boarding community at a Waikato-based school. He has held a range of teaching, pastoral, and co‑curricular roles, as well as leadership responsibilities within school programmes. Pungent Pukeko runs quietly in the background of this work, with Jack overseeing product development, distillation, compliance, and branding, with large ambitions to grow over the next 5 years. |
Sarah Bonoma (Dancing Sands): Chair & Committee member: August 2024 – August 2026 David Hawk (Parched): Committee member: June 2023 – August 2026 Roanne Parker (Waiheke Whisky): Committee member: August 2024 – August 2026 Nikki Oesterle (Papaiti Gin): Committee member: August 2024 – November 2025 Richard Wilson (Sandymount Distillery): Committee member: May 2021 – June 2022; Chair: June 2022 – September 2024 Antony Michalik (The Spirits Workshop): Committee member: Sept 2018 – September 2024 Matt Bridge (Lunatic & Lover): Committee member: May 2021 – September 2024 Angela Davis (Glorious Lands): Committee member: November 2023 – September 2024 Sue James (Juno Gin): Chair: Sept 2018 – June 2022; Treasurer: Dec 2018 – Oct 2023 Wayne Chowles (Kaimai Brewing and Distilling): Committee member: June 2022 – June 2023 Jamel Barber (Cardrona Distillery): Committee member: March 2022 – April 2023 Ben Bonoma (Dancing Sands Distillery): Treasurer: Sept 2018 – Dec 2018 Maria Grau (Rough Hands Ltd): Committee member: Sept 2018 – June 2019 Chris Barlow (Barlovska Batch Liqueurs): Committee member: Feb 2019 – May 2020 Theo Arndt (Cardrona Distillery): Committee member: May 2020 – July 2020 Grant Finn (The NZ Whisky Company): Secretary: Sept 2018 – May 2020. Committee member: April 2020 – August 2020, Independent Committee member: August 2020 – April 2021 Brent Robinson (batch 10): Committee member: Sept 2018 – April 2021 Isla Sherrington (Cardrona Distillery): Committee member: May 2021 – March 2022 Rob Auld (Auld Distillery): Committee member: Sept 2018 – May 2021 | The Association contract the administration services of Lynda Booth, Administration |
Constitution & By-Laws |
DSA Constitution Our constitution defines the purpose, management, administration and membership of Distilled Spirits Aotearoa (DSA). |
Email: info@distilledspiritsaotearoa.org.nz |
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(c) 2025 - Distilled Spirits Aotearoa (NZ) Inc
Registered office:
– C/o Unlimit, Level 7, 54 Gill Street, New Plymouth 4310