Port of Napier Business Hall of Fame 2011 Inductees

Pioneers in aeriel mapping, tobacco and wine are the new inductees into The Port of Napier Business Hall of Fame. The latest inductees are New Zealand Aerial Mapping founder Henry Piet Drury van Asch (CBE), New Zealand Tobacco Company founder J. Gerhard Husheer, and legendary wine maker and ‘father' of red wine in New Zealand, Thomas Bayne McDonald.

They were inducted at a special event at Black Barn Winery on July 26th. Guest speaker was Bruce Mactaggart, joint owner and operator of Vector Arena in Auckland and director of Edutainment Group – which produced the successful Walking with Dinosaurs show.

Mr van Asch founded Hastings based New Zealand Aerial Mapping in May 1936 and is responsible for transforming New Zealand's cadastral maps into accurate topographical maps.

Mr Husheer was a German born businessman and philanthropist who formed the New Zealand Tobacco Company in 1913 and his presence is still felt today with the jewel in the Art Deco crown of the National Tobacco Company Building in Ahuriri.

Mr McDonald was 14 when he started making wine and by the 1960s was regarded as the ‘father' of red wine in New Zealand. His original winery is today known as Church Road winery.

The 2011 inductees join Frederick (FW) Williams and Nathaniel Kettle , Sir Russell Pettigrew, Sir James Wattie CBE, JN Williams, William Nelson, Robert Holt and Graeme Lowe QSM, CNZM who have been inducted since the Port of Napier Business Hall of Fame was established in 2009.

The Port of Napier Hall of Fame was initiated in partnership with the Hawkes Bay Chamber of Commerce to further promote the spirit of business within the region and to honour the achievements of successful business people.

Port of Napier chief executive Garth Cowie said the latest inductees have made a long standing contribution to the region which continues still to this day.

“These three men deserve recognition from the business community. Their induction into the Port of Napier Hawke's Bay Hall of Fame   reflects their significant pioneering business contributions,” Mr Cowie said.

Chamber Of Commerce chief executive Murray Douglas said other names have been debated with this new induction very worthy as the third in the series of Hall of Famers.

“It was clear that these business leaders have made a profound statement and contribution and we are thrilled that we can recognise them and celebrate with their families and successor businesses at this time,” he said.

1. J. Gerhard Husheer (1864-1954)

German-born businessman and philanthropist Gerhard Husheer was a leading figure in New Zealand's tobacco industry in the early-mid twentieth century.  His drive, ability to innovate, enthusiasm and sound business thinking helped shape the industry nationally – and made him a significant figure in Napier's business world.

Husheer arrived in New Zealand in 1911 with his Norwegian wife and three sons, and an ambition to found a tobacco production industry. He selected Hawke's Bay as his base and leased farms first at Pakipaki, then Haumoana. In 1913 he formed the New Zealand Tobacco Company. The First World War provoked trouble; Husheer was German– and in 1919 those tensions led his directors to rid themselves of him.

Husheer moved to Auckland, where he raised more capital and grew tobacco at Riverhead.  He returned to Napier after the collapse of his former company and bought the building and equipment, forming the National Tobacco Company around 1923.

After the devastating Hawke's Bay quake of February 1931, Husheer had the damaged office frontage replaced with an architect-designed art deco structure that became iconic.

Business success brought personal wealth. Although reclusive, Husheer sought to help those less fortunate than himself and became well known as a philanthropist, supporting local businesses, people and causes.

(Incorporates comments from J. Husheer)

2. Henry Piet Drury van Asch (1911-1996)

Piet van Asch was one of New Zealand's aerial mapping pioneers, who founded and steered his  business through the rocky waters of depression-era New Zealand and beyond.

Van Asch had a long-standing interest in photography. He founded Hastings-based New Zealand Aerial Mapping in May 1936, and foundation shareholders included East Coast farmers who had seen his livestock photography. His first aircraft was a General Aircraft Monospar, which he travelled to Britain to buy – where he also gained experience as an aerial surveyor.

Early work took van Asch and his team from Northland to Bluff. More work came with the Second World War, and  in 1943 the company took delivery of a Beechcraft, which allowed servicing of the Pacific Islands. After the Second World War, van Asch continued to lead the company from the strength to strength, even tackling city surveys – always a tricky proposition. He retired in 1980, after having logged some 6700 commercial flying hours.

Piet van Asch remains one of the prime figures responsible for transforming New Zealand's cadastral maps into accurate topographical maps. He was made an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. He also became a fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and received the CBE.

(Incorporates comments from Hugh van Asch)

3. Thomas Bayne McDonald (1907-1987)

Tom McDonald was 14 when he began wine-making in the Taradale vineyard and winery under the tutelage of Batholomew Steinmetz.

McDonald took over the winery in 1927 aged just nineteen, and later purchased the facility and associated vineyard. Times were initially difficult, and McDonald was forced to think laterally during his early years, even planting fruit and vegetables and running sheep.  In 1949 he made New Zealand's first commercial Cabernet Sauvignon, which he always referred to as the best. The quality of the red wine he was making by the 1960s was such that he became known  as the ‘father' of red wine in New Zealand.

McDonald's achievement is given perspective by the fact that for much of the twentieth century, New Zealand was not a nation of wine-drinkers. Restrictive alcohol laws and a focus on sherry and beer made wine a niche market. He was also very active politically, and was became President of the Hawke's Bay Grape Winegrowers' Association.

His winery went through a number of hands, merging in 1962 with McWillliams wines. McDonald retired in 1976, but continued to make wine for the next five years. His winery was reopened  by Montana Wines in 1989 as the Church Road winery.

(Incorporates comments from Barrie Browne)

2011 Induction Event at Black Barn Restaurant, Havelock North

Below are some images from the 2011 Port of Napier Business Hall of Fame, 27 July at Black Barn Restaurant, Havelock North.