Te Mata Estate

Te Mata Estate was originally part of Te Mata Station, a large pastoral land-holding established by English immigrant, John Chambers, in 1854. A homestead and stables were built on the property in the early 1870’s.

After returning from France, John Chamber’s third son, Bernard, had the idea to plant vineyards on the north-facing hills around Havelock North. In 1892, Bernard Chambers planted vines on three parcels of hillside land above the homestead and began converting the original stables to ferment and mature these first Te Mata Estate Wines. Today, Te Mata Estate still uses those same three vineyards.

The Chambers family sold the property in 1919. Te Mata Vineyards (TMV) was established and the property had two other owners until it was acquired by the Buck and Morris families in 1974 - the two families behind the modern interpretation of this historic New Zealand estate.

Te Mata Estate has five vineyards totalling 15 hectares on the free draining soils of the Havelock Hills north-facing slopes.

Te Mata Estate's wines are from some of the oldest vineyards in New Zealand. In 1996 the Havelock Hills area was recognized for the significance of its natural and viticultural heritage when it was designated the Te Mata Special Character Zone. 

First planted in the 1890s, this area produces wines with balance, power and elegance.

Te Mata Estate has two vineyards of 15 hectares each in the Bridge Pa Triangle. Bullnose Vineyard comprises predominantly red varieties (syrah, merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon), while Isosceles Vineyard is a mixture of white (chardonnay, sauvignon blanc) and red varieties (merlot, cabernet franc).

Soils are free draining silt loams over a red metal base, and summer temperatures can be among the hottest in Hawke's Bay.

Hawke’s Bay is a very special place for making wine. Its range of slopes, plains and climatic differences, coupled with low humidity and ample ultra-violet light, give winemakers a comprehensive toolkit to showcase their skills. Soils are young and derived from the gravels, silt and sands left behind as the three main rivers of Hawke’s Bay changed course over thousands of years.

Te Mata Estate was established here in 1896, specialising in high-quality wines of classical style. Every step in the production of our wines is undertaken by us, from grape growing and pruning through to winemaking and bottling.

Over the last forty years Te Mata Estate has established an internationally-recognised array of red and white wines including Coleraine, Awatea, Bullnose Syrah, Elston Chardonnay, Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc and, released in 2009, Zara Viognier.

In 2012, Te Mata Estate launched Estate Vineyards - a collection of five varietally-designated wines; Merlot/Cabernets, Syrah, Gamay Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The Estate Vineyard wines are produced exclusively from Te Mata Estate’s own vineyards and represent the best qualities of their variety, vintage, and Hawke's Bay origin.

Today, Te Mata Estate is recognized as one of New Zealand’s most prestigious wine producers, making nearly 40,000 cases a year of premium wine and exporting to over 42 countries.

Many centuries ago the people living in pā on the Heretaunga Plains were under threat from the warring coastal tribes of Waimarama.

At a marae at Pakipaki where the Heretuanga people met to discuss the problem a wise old woman (kuia) asked permission to speak:"He ai na te wahine, ka horahia te po," she said. “The ways of a woman can sometimes overcome the effects of darkness.”


It was agreed that Hinerakau, the beautiful daughter of a Pakipaki chief, would charm the leader of the Waimarama tribes, a giant named Te Mata, into falling in love with her and turn his thoughts from war to peace. The plan succeeded but, in her attempts to charm Te Mata, Hinerakau tragically fell in love with the giant from Waimarama.

But the people of Heretaunga had not forgotten the past and with revenge in their hearts demanded that Hinerakau make Te Mata prove his devotion by accomplishing an impossible task - to bite his way through the hills between the coast and the plains so that they could reach the sea with greater ease.

Te Mata - the giant and leader of the Wiamarama tribes - died proving his love to Hinerakau and today his half-accomplished work can be seen in the hills behind Havelock North in what is now known as ‘The Gap’ or ‘Pari Karangaranga’ (Echoing Cliffs).


The legend goes that his body still lies where he died, forming the ridgeline of Te Mata Peak. At sunset one can even see, in the mists which stretch from the crown of Kahuranaki, the beautiful blue cloak with which the grieving Hinerakau covered the body of her love before leaping to her own death from the Waimarama side of the peak. It is said that the gully at the foot of the cliff was formed when her body struck the earth.