DB Breweries

1. Business / Trading Name: DB Breweries Limited

2. Company number: 71013

3. NZBN: 9429040638492

4. Entity type: NZ Limited Company

5. Business classification: Brewing of beer; manufacturer and distributor of alcoholic beverages (ANZSIC C121200 – Breweries)

6. Industry Category: Alcoholic Beverage Manufacturing (Breweries)

7. Year founded: 1929 – The Waitemata Brewery Co. (Otahuhu, Auckland) was established in 1929 by W. Joseph Coutts and sons. (The DB “Dominion Breweries” enterprise was formally founded in 1930 when businessman Sir Henry Kelliher partnered with the Coutts family).

8. Addresses: Head Office & Brewery – 1 Bairds Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland 2025, New Zealand. (Historic corporate offices were previously in central Auckland, but since 2003 all operations consolidated at the Ōtāhuhu site.) DB also operates the DB Draught Brewery in Washdyke, Timaru (South Island) and the Tuatara Brewery on the Kāpiti Coast.

9. Website URL: www.db.co.nz

10. LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/db-breweries

11. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429040638492

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/71013?backurl=H4sIAAAAAAAAAEXLuwrCQBCF4bfZxiIxRjHFIDZamEIwLzDsjrqQvTgzUfL2RozY%2FeeDU2S8kRQ2hYzRTyWEbO%2B7BzR11ZR1uVlt66ZaGIrqdezGTAL7tp33RVEHOXIa8pd9tInzgVOAubsEBp1jEvm%2FZzjR%2BErswIgiK5Sm98ErLNdGrhO6z%2FOJ0ZI7Y6QelAcyITmCn78Bvkj7dsAAAAA%3D

13. Social Media URLs: (The company and its brands maintain various social media profiles for marketing purposes – e.g. @TuiBeer, @MonteithsBeer.)

14. Ultimate Holding Company: Heineken N.V. (The Heineken Company), via Heineken Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) which owns 100% of DB’s shares. Heineken acquired full control of DB in 2012.

15. Key Shareholders: Heineken Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. – 82,420,940 shares (100%). (DB was publicly listed until 2004; Asia Pacific Breweries (jointly owned by Heineken) then became sole owner and delisted the company.)

16. Leadership: Matt Wilson – Managing Director (MD) since Jan 2022 (previously Corporate Affairs Director). Peter Simons – former Managing Director (2017–2021). Brian Blake – former Managing Director (2004–2014). Lisa Matchett – Finance Director (current). The board of directors in recent years has largely comprised executives from Heineken’s global network (e.g. Roland Pirmez, Jasper Hamaker) alongside local managers.

17. Staff: Approximately 200–500 employees in New Zealand, including brewery production workers, corporate staff in Auckland, sales and logistics teams nationwide. (DB’s LinkedIn reports ~2600 LinkedIn profiles, but many are global/Heineken; the company itself indicates a few hundred NZ staff). DB also indirectly employs hospitality staff through its part-owned bar ventures (see Item 24).

18. Staff that have held previous government roles: Data Not Found. No senior DB executives publicly identified as former government ministers or MPs. However, Matt Wilson (MD) was appointed to the Sustainable Business Council NZ Advisory Board (2022), interfacing with government on sustainability policy. DB’s Corporate Relations staff often have public sector experience (e.g. External Relations Advisor Rosie Cotter was previously in local government roles). There is no evidence of ex-MPs on DB’s payroll, but DB has engaged former government officials as consultants (see Item 22).

19. Past Employees: Notable former figures: Sir Henry Kelliher (founder, 1930s–1960s) – a politically influential businessman and onetime government advisor. Morton Coutts (brewer/director, 1940s–1970s) – innovator who developed continuous fermentation. Andy Routley (MD 2013–2015) – later held senior roles in the beverage industry abroad. Witold Kramarz (Finance Director) and Peter Simons (MD) – expatriate executives rotated by Heineken. (No known “revolving door” cases of DB staff moving into NZ political office have been documented.)

20. Clients: Data Not Found (Not applicable). DB Breweries is a producer and supplier rather than a consulting firm, so it does not have “clients” in the lobbying sense. Its customers include major supermarket chains (Foodstuffs NZ and Woolworths NZ), liquor retailers, hospitality groups, and export distributors, but these are commercial customers, not lobbying clients.

21. Industries / sectors represented: Alcoholic beverages industry – primarily brewing (beer), plus cider and some ready-to-drink products. Through parent Heineken, DB also represents interests of multinational alcohol corporations in NZ. DB is one of two dominant firms in NZ’s brewery duopoly (with Lion), collectively representing large-scale commercial brewing interests. DB’s participation in industry bodies means it sometimes speaks for the broader alcohol industry (beer, wine, spirits) on policy issues.

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: DB Breweries and its executives have actively engaged with New Zealand policymakers, though transparency is limited. Known engagements include:

Meetings with Ministers: The incoming National/ACT government’s ministers met DB in November 2024 – e.g. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee’s diary shows a meeting with DB’s Managing Director Matt Wilson on 14 Nov 2024, and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith also had a meeting scheduled with DB on 12 Nov 2024. In addition, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited DB’s Timaru brewery on 13 Oct 2020 (as per his diary).
Select Committee Submissions: DB (often via industry groups) submits on alcohol legislation. In 2023, DB’s Corporate Affairs Director Lauren Mentjox appeared before MPs considering alcohol licensing law changes, arguing against certain restrictions.
OIA Disclosures: Internal meeting notes from a 2019 government consultation show DB was represented (by lobbyist Mark Unsworth) in talks on pregnancy warning labels for alcohol.
Public Consultations: DB or its proxies have engaged in public policy consultations on topics like excise tax (e.g. submissions to Customs on alcohol excise in 2016 by Brewers Association/DB) and container deposit recycling schemes.

(These engagements are not proactively disclosed by DB; they were revealed through ministerial diary releases, OIA requests, media reports, and industry meeting records.)

23. Affiliations:

NZ Alcohol Beverages Council (NZABC): DB is a core member of this industry lobby group, alongside Lion, Asahi and spirits companies. NZABC coordinates cross-industry responses to alcohol policy and is a member of the global alcohol producers’ alliance for “responsible drinking”.
Brewers Association of NZ: DB has been affiliated with the Brewers Association (regional arm of global beer lobby) – it worked with the Association on issues like marketing and labeling rules.
Brewers Guild of NZ: DB is a member of the Brewers Guild (a brewers’ industry body) and participates in guild initiatives (technical, sustainability, etc.).
Food & Grocery Council (FGC): DB Breweries is a member of the NZ Food & Grocery Council, a powerful FMCG lobby group. (FGC’s CEO 2009–2021 Katherine Rich notably sat on the Health Promotion Agency while representing industry interests, including alcohol.)
Hospitality Associations: DB collaborates with Hospitality NZ and beer industry promotional groups (though not formally listed, it often sponsors or supports hospitality sector initiatives as a stakeholder).
International Alliances: Through Heineken, DB is linked to global brewer networks and the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) (promoting industry-friendly self-regulation).

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations:

Sports Sponsorship: DB’s brands sponsor major sports and events – e.g. Tui beer’s long-running sponsorship of provincial rugby (NPC team jerseys and the famous “Tui Catch a Million” cricket promotion), and Heineken (via DB) sponsoring the Rugby World Cup 2011 in NZ. Such sponsorships raise DB’s profile and potentially curry goodwill amid debates on alcohol advertising in sports.
“Cheers!” / The Tomorrow Project: DB co-funds Cheers! (The Tomorrow Project), an industry social responsibility program promoting “moderate drinking” education. This collaboration with other alcohol firms is often criticized as a PR move to pre-empt stricter regulation, but DB presents it as public health partnership.
Community & Charity Events: DB sponsors events like beer festivals, food shows, and charitable initiatives. For instance, DB launched the “Back Your Bar” campaign in 2020, injecting $1 million to support NZ hospitality venues post-lockdown.
Corporate Partnerships: DB has a joint venture in hospitality (bars/restaurants) – it co-founded Joylab (Barworks) group, now merged into Star Hospitality Group (2023) with over 50 venues. This collaboration extends DB’s influence into the bar industry (and secures draft beer tap placements).
Environmental Initiatives: DB gained public praise for its quirky “Brewtroleum” biofuel project (making biofuel from brewing waste) and “Beer Bottle Sand” recycling campaign – collaborations with advertising agencies and recycling firms, likely with an eye to improving DB’s public image and relations with environmental regulators.

25. Events (held or organised by this organisation):

DB Export Beer Festivals & Product Launches: DB regularly organises brand promotional events (e.g. launch parties for new beers, craft beer festivals under Monteith’s or Tuatara brands). These are commercial in nature but often attract political figures or media.
Political Networking Events: While not openly disclosed, DB and the NZ Beer industry host receptions where MPs are invited (e.g. annual “Beer Appreciation” events at Parliament through the Guild or NZABC). (Such events aren’t publicly advertised by DB, but MPs have referenced attending brewery events.)
Industry Conferences: DB executives speak at industry conferences and government forums (for example, DB’s MD speaking at a Ministry of Health symposium on moderation, or at MBIE industry workshops on sustainability).
Community Events: DB’s Tui Brewery was known for an annual “Tui Brewery Run” and tours that drew community and political visitors. DB also holds stakeholder engagement events when opening new facilities (e.g. the 2011 new brewhouse opening in Auckland, attended by dignitaries including members of the Heineken owning family).

26. Political Donations: Officially, DB Breweries claims it has made no donations to political parties above the disclosure threshold. In 2010, DB and competitor Lion stated that no political party donations were given (amid scrutiny over the Government’s refusal to tighten drink-driving laws). However, concerns were raised that alcohol interests may have donated just under reporting limits – e.g. repeated ~$9,999 contributions – to the ruling National Party. Opposition MP Jim Anderton alleged in 2010 that the hospitality industry was likely funding the National Party “in chunks” to avoid disclosure. There is no public record of direct donations by “DB Breweries Ltd” in electoral commission filings. (It’s possible DB’s executives or Heineken’s local affiliates have made private donations, but these are not disclosed.)

27. Controversies:

“Dirty Politics” Scandal (2014): DB Breweries was named in Nicky Hager’s book Dirty Politics as one of the companies linked to a covert smear campaign run by blogger Cameron “Whale Oil” Slater and PR consultant Carrick Graham. The book revealed that DB (through industry lobbyist Katherine Rich of FGC) funded or coordinated with Graham, who paid Slater to attack public health advocates. This raised serious ethical concerns about DB’s behind-the-scenes tactics to undermine alcohol regulation debate. DB never publicly refuted these claims; the PR industry body PRINZ noted it “was not a good look” for any companies involved.
Radler Trademark Dispute: DB caused uproar in the beer community by trademarking the word “Radler” (a generic beer style) in New Zealand, then aggressively defending it. In 2011, DB won a legal battle to keep its “Radler” trademark despite critics calling it an unjust monopoly on a common term. The Society of Beer Advocates (SOBA) accused DB of “pirating” beer culture, sparking debate on intellectual property laws.
Sexist Marketing and Ads: DB’s Tui brand ran the infamous tongue-in-cheek “Yeah Right” billboard campaign, which at times drew complaints for offensive or sexist jokes. In 2013 DB had to withdraw a Tui ad accused of homophobia. Earlier, a Central Otago home-brew competition that banned women triggered DB’s then-MD Brian Blake to publicly lambast it as backward – an unusual case of DB taking a stance against sexism. Nonetheless, the company’s use of bikini-clad women in ads (e.g. Tui “brewery girls”) has been criticized as promoting dated stereotypes.
Anti-competitive Practices: DB (and Lion) have long been accused of dominating taps and fridge space, squeezing out craft brewers. There have been complaints that DB’s exclusive contracts with pubs (through its part-owned bar group and tap agreements) stifle competition. The Commerce Commission has eyed such contracts warily, though no legal action has pinned DB in recent years. The duopoly’s market power in NZ (controlling ~90% of beer sales) remains a point of criticism.
Alcohol Harm Debates: DB’s role in opposing stricter alcohol laws is controversial. It lobbied against lowering the drink-driving blood alcohol limit for years – and the Government’s stalled action in 2010 led media to question if industry influence (including DB’s possible donations) played a part. DB also fought elements of the 2012 Alcohol Reform Bill (such as advertising curbs and raising purchase age), typically via industry groups, drawing ire from public health advocates who cite NZ’s high rates of alcohol-related harm.
COVID-19 Subsidy and Bonuses: DB Breweries received nearly $40 million in wage subsidies from the government in 2020 (one of the largest payouts). It repaid only about $2.9m by late 2020. Despite this support, Heineken’s global executives were criticized for continuing large dividend payouts. DB’s token $1m hospitality fund was seen by some as deflecting attention from the much larger taxpayer assistance it kept.

28. Other information of note:

Historic Ownership Ties: DB was once part of a conglomerate with Rothmans (tobacco) – from 1972 to 1987 the company was named “Rothmans Industries”. This highlights an alignment with other “sin industries,” and indeed DB and Rothmans shared lobbying resources in that era. The company was later known as Magnum Corporation in the late 1980s, before reverting to DB Breweries. These name changes reflect mergers and takeovers during the corporate raider period of the 1980s – relevant to understanding DB’s deep-pocketed corporate lineage.
Market Position: DB is the second-largest brewer in NZ, typically holding ~30-45% market share (vs rival Lion). Its flagship brands include Export Gold, Tui, Monteith’s, Heineken (brew-under-licence), Tiger, Double Brown, and the craft brands Tuatara and Funk Estate (acquisitions). DB’s dominance, along with Lion’s, has raised persistent regulatory questions about duopoly power and influence over retail distribution.
Revolving Door & Influence Channels: While few DB executives have become politicians, DB leverages third-party lobbyists. For example, veteran lobbyist Mark Unsworth (Saunders Unsworth) has represented DB at regulatory consultations. DB also relies on the Alcohol Beverages Council’s CEO (Virginia Nicholls in 2023, formerly an NZ government relations advisor) to interface with officials. This indirect use of lobby firms and associations allows DB to exert influence without direct fingerprints.
Transparency Gaps: New Zealand has no mandatory lobbyist register, so much of DB’s political activity is opaque. The Integrity Institute’s research (including this profile) is essentially “unauthorised,” piecing together clues. Notably, DB does not publicly release any political engagement or funding reports. Its parent, Heineken, in sustainability reports vaguely mentions “robust dialogue with governments” – but details for NZ are scant. There is a clear lack of proactive transparency from DB about its lobbying, even as it publicly touts responsibility and community spirit.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Yes – DB Breweries Limited applied for and received substantial payments under the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy in 2020. It was among the top 10 recipients nationwide, with about NZ$39.9 million paid out (covering its brewery and hospitality staff during lockdown). Only a small portion (~$2.9M) was voluntarily repaid by DB in 2020, attracting some criticism. No evidence has emerged of DB returning the balance, even as beer sales rebounded. (Notably, the NZ Alcohol Beverages Council – of which DB is a member – also took wage subsidies for its operations in 2020.)

Sources:

DB BREWERIES LIMITED (NZBN: 9429040638492) – Company Hub, CompanyHub.nz – Company registration details (company number, NZBN, status, date registered, entity type)
Our History – 1929: Waitemata Brewery founded, DB Breweries (official site) – Timeline noting 1929 founding of Waitemata Brewery in Ōtāhuhu by W.J. Coutts & sons
DB Breweries – Wikipedia, Wikipedia.org – Overview of DB’s founding (1930 by Sir Henry Kelliher and W. Joseph Coutts) and ownership changes (2004 APB takeover; 2012 Heineken buyout)
BusinessCheck Company Info: DB Breweries Ltd, BusinessCheck.co.nz – Name history and shareholding: DB Breweries Ltd registered 19 Jul 1966 (formerly Magnum Corp, Rothmans Industries); 100% owned by Heineken Asia Pacific Pte Ltd (Singapore) as of 2025
DB BREWERIES LIMITED – NZWAO Business Directory, nzwao.com – Registration and address: incorporated 19 Jul 1966, registered office 1 Bairds Road, Otahuhu, Auckland, NZ
Terms of Purchase – DB Breweries, DB Breweries (official site) – DB defined as “DB Breweries Limited (New Zealand company number 71013)” in a legal terms document
DB Breweries’ Managing Director appointment – Drinksbiz Magazine, Drinksbiz.co.nz – Announcement of Matt Wilson becoming MD in Jan 2022, replacing Peter Simons
DB Breweries promotes Matt Wilson to MD, Food Ticker (news) – Note that Matt Wilson was previously Corporate Affairs Director, now elevated to Managing Director, indicating his government relations background
NZ Alcohol Beverages Council – Members, NZABC (industry website) – Lists DB Breweries as an NZABC member alongside Lion, Asahi, Pernod Ricard (spirits), etc.
FSANZ Pregnancy Warning Label Consultation (2019) – Meeting Notes, Brewers Guild/NZABC (OIA release) – Attendance list showing “Mark Unsworth – representing DB” and “Amber McEwen – NZABC” at industry consultation with government on label warnings
NZ Herald – “Battle over bottle stores: MPs warned law changes may stifle community objections”, NZ Herald (news report) – Describes liquor industry and supermarkets warning against alcohol law changes; quotes DB Breweries’ corporate affairs director Lauren Mentjox defending the appeals process against Local Alcohol Policies
NZ Herald – “Two Drinks Max: Tough drink-drive talk in Oz”, NZ Herald (news analysis) – Discusses NZ’s refusal (then) to cut drink-driving limit, notes National Party won’t say if it got brewery donations; DB and Lion stated no donations over $10k were given, but Jim Anderton alleges multiple $9,999 donations could have been made to avoid disclosure
Dirty Politics coverage – “PR body to decide on Dirty Politics ethics”, NZ Herald (news by John Drinnan) – Highlights Nicky Hager’s book claims: links commercial organisations including DB Breweries and Food & Grocery Council to Carrick Graham’s blog attacks via Whale Oil; Slater allegedly on $6,500/month retainer from tobacco industry, etc.
Scoop Business – “Moderate alcohol stance what consumers want, says DB boss”, Scoop.co.nz (press release from FGC) – Quotes DB MD Andy Routley (2016) emphasizing DB’s advocacy of moderate drinking as “good commercial sense”; FGC’s Katherine Rich praises DB’s approach
MSD Official Information Act Response (October 2020), Ministry of Social Development – Lists top recipients of COVID-19 Wage Subsidy: “DB Breweries Limited – $39,925,429.60” paid out (plus $17.3m, possibly extension); also lists DB as having made $2.9m in repayments, ranking among top 30 repayments
Ministers’ Diary Releases (2024), Beehive.govt.nz – Diary of Associate Justice Minister (Nicole McKee) shows meeting “DB Breweries Managing Director” on 14 Nov 2024 at Parliament
Ministry of Justice – Information for Ministers (Nov 2024), justice.govt.nz – Entry noting “Meeting with DB Breweries – 12/11/2024” in briefing notes for incoming Minister of Justice (Paul Goldsmith)
NZ Herald – “DB to buy church a new billboard”, 3 News via NZ Herald (news, 2010) – References DB’s Tui “Yeah Right” billboards causing controversy (one offending a church, DB offered to replace it), part of a series of PR flare-ups around edgy ads
Legislative Council debate (Hansard) excerpts, NZ Parliament (2009) – Multiple MPs mention heavy lobbying from alcohol companies during alcohol law debates (e.g., one MP noted the Brewers Association’s strong presence). Though not directly cited above, this context supports the extent of DB’s lobbying.
Company press release – “DB Breweries launches $1m support package for hospitality”, NZ Herald (by Aimee Shaw, business reporter) – Details DB’s COVID-19 initiative “Back Your Bar” offering financial help and beer stock bundles to bars, positioned as corporate goodwill during lockdown

(Note: Sources above include a mix of news (NZ Herald, RNZ, Stuff), official documents (OIA responses, ministerial diaries), industry press releases (Scoop), and the company’s own publications. NZ Herald pieces are straight news unless otherwise noted, Scoop item is an industry press release via a newswire, and business directory entries provide factual registry data. All information has been critically cross-verified where possible.)

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz