Waiwera Mineral Water – Named Best in the World
Ultimate accolade for NZ mineral water.
New Zealanders are being urged to celebrate another international win with a glass of bubbles..Waiwera Infinity mineral
water, judged “best in the world” by international wine bible, Decanter magazine.
Decanter’s panel - made up of Masters of Wine, top sommeliers and some of the most experienced palates in Europe – voted
Waiwera the supreme winner in a blind taste test of twenty four (24) international waters and a two (2) London tap
waters.
The significance of the award is a huge accolade for the company which prides itself on its authenticity, according to
director, Fraser Brown.
“It’s great to have such a well respected international magazine affirm what we have been saying about our water for
years. We have always known that our water is of the highest quality in the world, so having the most respected wine
magazine in the world name our little kiwi brand the best water in the world is about the best Christmas present we
could ask for.”
Waiwera Mineral Water (pronounced: why-where-ah and meaning hot water) was first bottled and sold in 1875, four years
before Evian (which came in at 14th in the taste test) making it the oldest bottled mineral water in New Zealand, and
one of the oldest in the world.
The artesian water is sourced from a geothermal aquifer deep beneath the beautiful Waiwera valley on the hibiscus coast,
north of Auckland, and bottled at source. The first “Spa” in the southern hemisphere, Waiwera has been famous for the
curative and therapeutic properties of its waters for more than two hundred (200) years. Local Maori believed it to be
so powerful they named it “Te Rata” (the doctor) and by the late 1870’s Waiwera was a world renowned spa destination
with people travelling from as far away as Europe just to “take the waters.”
In 2006 Waiwera, a 100% New Zealand family owned business, relaunched the famous brand in a range of iconic glass and
plastic bottles with a design based on the original bottle from 1875. The bottles have picked up several local and
international design awards including “best bottle in glass” at the bottled water world international design awards in
Italy, in 2006 and the overall “best packaging” award at the 2007 NZ Juice and Beverage awards. At the same awards the
brand was also named “ Best Sparkling Water” in both the local and International categories.
Interestingly, a London water sourced from a tap in South Kensington, scored higher than most of the international
brands, some of which cost thousands of times more. Decanter editor Guy Woodward said “the tasting was instructive in
showing up the 'outrageous' prices charged for mineral waters – which rival the 'scandalous' markups on wine.”
“I think it’s great!” says Brown. “Our whole philosophy is about putting the best water in the world, into the best
bottles in the world, and making it accessible to everyone. The prices that some establishments are charging for, quite
frankly, over rated waters are crazy. This is exactly why Waiwera is not only served in some of the world’s best
restaurants and hotels (Claridges in London, the TRUMP hotels in Chicago and Partingtons in Auckland) but is also
available in almost every supermarket in the country.”
Brown and the Waiwera team, lead by founder John St Clair Brown will of course be celebrating in style for the festive
season with the world’s best bubbly. Waiwera Infinity Mineral Water.
ENDS