Our Story
The Tiraki Journey
From hay bales
to harvests
to harvests
We didn’t always plan to start a wine company together, but looking back, maybe it was inevitable.
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Who we are
We’re three siblings who grew up on a Marlborough farm, building forts out of hay bales, working the vineyard by day, and skiing down the Wairau River by night. (You can spot that same river running through the valley on our label.)
Without realising it, we each followed paths that turned out to be perfectly complementary. A winemaker, a marketer, an MBA grad, and a long time friend who just so happens to be a brilliant salesman. Tiraki was quietly growing before we even gave it a name.
Without realising it, we each followed paths that turned out to be perfectly complementary. A winemaker, a marketer, an MBA grad, and a long time friend who just so happens to be a brilliant salesman. Tiraki was quietly growing before we even gave it a name.
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The fourth sibling
We’ve always been close, but these days, we talk more than ever.
Tiraki was built on that connection, not just between us, but between people, place, and nature. Wine has a way of bringing people together, and for us, it’s brought our family even closer. We also gained another brother along the way: Chris, who joined the family the classic way, by showing up to Mum and Dad’s for dinner and never really leaving.
Tiraki was built on that connection, not just between us, but between people, place, and nature. Wine has a way of bringing people together, and for us, it’s brought our family even closer. We also gained another brother along the way: Chris, who joined the family the classic way, by showing up to Mum and Dad’s for dinner and never really leaving.
How it started
Tyler once wanted to be a walnut seller. Josh was determined to turn bark and fish into a business. I wanted to be a Silver Fern. Safe to say, we’ve always had big dreams... even if they were a bit unconventional.
In our younger years, we’d head out with Dad to check the irrigation or help feeding out. As the farm evolved, so did we, and by the time we were teenagers, our summers were spent working in the vineyard.
We loved growing up in Marlborough, but like most teenagers from small towns, we couldn’t wait to get out and explore. One by one, we left. Off to uni, new cities, new countries, chasing opportunity and feeding our adventurous spirit.
In our younger years, we’d head out with Dad to check the irrigation or help feeding out. As the farm evolved, so did we, and by the time we were teenagers, our summers were spent working in the vineyard.
We loved growing up in Marlborough, but like most teenagers from small towns, we couldn’t wait to get out and explore. One by one, we left. Off to uni, new cities, new countries, chasing opportunity and feeding our adventurous spirit.
Coming Home
The three of us hadn’t lived in the same place for more than a quick holiday in over ten years. Then Covid hit. Tyler and I returned to Marlborough, and for five unexpected months, all three siblings were back on the farm. Much to Mum and Dad’s delight.
That was when Tiraki was born, around the kitchen table, during vineyard walks, and over more than a few family dinners (Chris included, of course).
That was when Tiraki was born, around the kitchen table, during vineyard walks, and over more than a few family dinners (Chris included, of course).
Josh hammond
Josh grew up working the land — driving tractors before cars, helping with lambing, and spending summers in the vineyard to fund his next snowboard. A law and chemistry grad turned winemaker, his passion began with a high school harvest and has been growing ever since. He never imagined it would lead to building Tiraki with his siblings
Josh hammond
Winemaker
Tyler hammond
From the paddocks of Marlborough to the mines of Mexico and then to Cambridge for his MBA, Tyler’s path has been anything but ordinary. After a decade abroad, the pandemic brought him back home, and back into the vineyard. Now, he leads Tiraki’s growth across Europe and North America, blending strategic thinking with family values (and keeping us all in line with his spreadsheets and dry humour).
Tyler hammond
Europe Director
Chris Pratt
Chris earned a scholarship to study international business in China and never really looked back. After a decade building relationships across Asia, he now splits his time between the region and Lake Rotoiti. As Tiraki’s Asia Director, and honorary Hammond sibling, he brings global perspective, big energy, and a habit of turning family dinners into business meetings.
Chris pratt
Asia Director
Ellarose Hammond
EllaRose grew up on the family farm in Marlborough, usually trying to keep up with her older brothers. After a career in luxury, FMCG, and wine marketing, she returned to help build a brand that feels as good as it tastes. Now based in Europe, she leads Tiraki’s global brand and marketing, and played a key role in its B Corp certification, blending creativity and purpose to share Tiraki with the world.
Ellarose hammond
Marketing Director
Where we are now
Tiraki means the clearing of the sky, and that’s exactly what this brand has been for us. A return to what matters. The land, our roots, each other.
We created Tiraki to reflect the life we’ve lived and the values we were raised with: to care for the land, support your community, and stay connected to what’s real.
From childhood chores to international markets, it’s been a ride, and it’s only just begun.
We created Tiraki to reflect the life we’ve lived and the values we were raised with: to care for the land, support your community, and stay connected to what’s real.
From childhood chores to international markets, it’s been a ride, and it’s only just begun.
Our Values
Our values at Tiraki are rooted in Tikanga Māori and shape everything we do. From how we care for the land to how we build community. By sharing these principles, we aim to foster meaningful connections and create positive change together.
Kaitiakitanga
Whanaungatanga
Kotahitanga
Manaakitanga
Kaitiakitanga
guardianship of the land
This guides everything we do. From native planting and cover crops to seasonal sheep grazing, we work in harmony with nature to support biodiversity. Our transition to organic practices and commitment to low-impact packaging reflect a deeper promise: to care for the land we’ve inherited, and to leave it better for those who come next.
Whanaungatanga
the value of connection and kinship
We foster this through strong relationships with our local community, sourcing over 50% of our non-labour spend from independent suppliers and donating a portion of revenue each year to biodiversity-focused charities. These partnerships reflect our belief that shared purpose and collective care create true belonging — within our team, our community, and beyond.
Kotahitanga
unity and collective action
As a family business rooted in Marlborough, we work together with a shared purpose, guided by values that prioritise people, planet, and long-term impact. Our B Corp certification reflects this commitment, and as New Zealand’s first and only wine brand to achieve it, we’re proud to be part of a global movement using business to build a more sustainable and connected future.
Manaakitanga
the spirit of hospitality, kindness, and generosity
From sourcing locally and supporting our Marlborough community to our commitment to sustainability as a B Corp, we aim to create meaningful connections and a true sense of belonging. Every bottle is an invitation to experience the warmth of our home and the care, generosity, and hospitality that define who we are.
We are proud to be new zealand’s first b corp certified wine
The efforts of our adventurous company were recognised as we became B Corp Certified, joining a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact.
LEARN MORE
Follow the journey
Join our adventure, and tag us in yours to be featured in The Scrapbook.
Please enjoy Tiraki wines responsibly.
Need more information about your drinking?
Check out www.cheers.org.nz.
We do not encourage the consumption of alcohol while pregnant.
