Response to O’Connor statement
DB Breweries
Media statement
March 5, 2008
DB Breweries is bemused by the strength of feeling expressed by the Hon. Damien O’Connor, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Health in calling DB “deceitful bastards” because of a small sponsorship of a Christchurch bar owner’s promotion to match wild food with Monteith’s beer.
“We think we are decent blokes, not deceitful bastards, because we support many local events across New Zealand”, said Mark Campbell, GM Corporate Affairs for DB.
“For 13 years DB was the major sponsor of the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival that helped build it to the status it has today. We are sure the bar owner initiated promotion in Christchurch will not threaten the mighty West Coast in any way.
We can understand the Minister wanting to seek some publicity for his beloved West Coast.”
“DB will seek a meeting with the Minister to explore the choice of words he used in his media release in describing DB Breweries”, said Mark Campbell.
DB’s Monteith’s brewery on the West Coast, the Minister’s electorate, is one of its iconic tourist attractions. For over ten years, DB has also sponsored the New Zealand wide Monteith’s Beer & Wild Food Challenge, another commitment to drinking good beer and eating good food responsibly.
ENDS