James Wheeler

Director, TOHU WINES

James is of Te Atiawa and Te Arawa descent and is a Director of Wakatu Incorporation, Port Nicholson Fisheries and Tohu Wines, all Maori owned companies involved in a wide range of activities.

James is also the CEO of Tohu Wines ltd, successfully exporting the first Maori wines to the USA, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands.

From small beginnings in 1998 with a production of 3,500 cases, the company this year will produce 25,000 cases of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from its vineyards in Marlborough and Gisborne, the majority being exported. Plans are in place to grow the company to 100,000 cases.

The Maori perspective is a unique point of difference that Tohu use in marketing its wine in the high quality export category. Tohu Wines also has a small but growing private client base and sells wines to leading restaurants in New Zealand.

In 1995 James completed post graduate studies in Human Resource Management at Victoria University and is a qualified Industrial Engineer. He is also a Justice of the Peace. In a former life James was Human Resources Manager for South Pacific Tyres (NZ) Ltd.