Aotearoa’s first Hard Sparkling, Native, is making waves in the beverage world with its real fruit flavours and contributions to conservation.
With the Hard Seltzer craze fizzing in the US, the folks at Native wanted to make a beverage with the same positive attributes as a seltzer, but with a uniquely Kiwi twist. So, they came up with the term Hard Sparkling.
A Hard Seltzer is distinctive in that it uses a neutral alcohol-base and Native is made up of fermented and distilled cane sugar to create its neutral spirit. This means it’s still alcoholic but with minimal residual carbohydrates and sugar.
Native was created by a team of 4 (3 of them siblings), who care deeply about the environment and wanted to make a ‘better alcohol option’ as well as positive environmental change.
When they learnt that 8 out of 10 adults acknowledge New Zealand’s environment improves their lives, yet only 1 out of 10 adults helped with a conservation project in 2019, they saw there was a disconnect between appreciating the environment and actively doing something to sustain it.
That’s why they decided to create a business with social enterprise at it’s heart. For every Native can sold, a percentage goes towards supporting conservation projects around the country.
So far, they have partnered with Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre to sponsor Kiwi chicks and Trees that Count, to get native trees planted around New Zealand with plans to support many more.
The Native Hard Sparkling range comes in Lemon and Yuzu, Apple and Feijoa, Berry and Blackcurrent and Kiwifruit and Lime and a new Tropical flavour.
With 10 packs as well as keg options available, there’s no doubt you’ll see Native’s Pīwakawaka mascot popping up as the home-grown company continues to quench thirsts across the country.
