At first light, the Awatere River moves quietly through the valley. A silver thread weaving its way from the Kaikōura Ranges to the sea. There’s something grounding about its rhythm, the way it shapes the land and nourishes everything along its path. For us at Tohu, that flow carries more than water; it holds connection to whenua, to people, and to purpose.
Our vineyards lie within the Awatere Valley, where the river’s influence can be felt in every season. The cool winds it channels shape the character of our grapes, and the mineral traces of its ancient path find expression in our wines. But beyond the science of terroir, there’s a deeper current. The Awatere reminds us that everything we do is part of a larger system - one that sustains and gives back, if treated with respect.
In te ao Māori, rivers are more than resources; they are ancestors, life-givers, and connectors between people and place. For us at Tohu, that perspective shapes how we understand the Awatere. The river reminds us that everything is connected and that our actions on the land ripple beyond the vineyard, influencing the wellbeing of the valley itself. It calls us to tread carefully, to give back where we can, and to honour the natural systems that sustain us.
At Tohu, this awareness shapes our actions - from sustainable vineyard practices to water management that honours the land’s natural balance. Each decision, large or small, is guided by values such as kaitiakitanga (guardianship). We see the river not as something to be used, but as something to be cared for, listened to, and learned from.
When we raise a glass of wine from this valley, we acknowledge the journey it has taken, from the flow of the Awatere to the hands that have tended the vines. It’s a quiet reminder of the connection between nature and people, and of the shared responsibility we carry to protect both.
The Awatere River continues to move - timeless, constant, alive. And in its flow, we see our own story reflected: grounded in the land, guided by kaupapa, and carried forward with care.