The Papaiti Gin Story
Meet Nikki & Adrian, founders of Papaiti Gin - a small-batch distillery nestled just outside Whanganui, where every bottle is a story waiting to be shared.
From the very start, it’s been about curiosity, creativity, and the quiet satisfaction of doing things the right way, even if it takes a little longer.
Our gin journey began when we spontaneously moved from Wellington to Whanganui, where we found ourselves in our forever home surrounded by a small orchard overflowing with pear trees.
It sparked an idea: What if we did something exciting with all those pears? What if we finally started our own business?
We’d always been fascinated by distilleries - and we did love a good G&T - which got us thinking. Was there a way to bring those pears into the world of distilling? Could we capture the essence of this place we’d so quickly fallen in love with in a bottle? Could we take the smell of pears on a sunny autumn morning, the warmth of a shared laugh with friends, and the simple joy of a garden harvest - and distil it all into something unforgettable?
That idea grew into Papaiti Gin, where every drop is crafted on-site, using mostly local botanicals - many grown or foraged by us. We do everything ourselves, from recipe development to redistillation, bottling, and labelling. It’s the only way to make sure every bottle lives up to the story it’s meant to tell.
Our core range celebrates New Zealand’s natural bounty: The Potager, The Orchard, The Whanganui Dry, and Mountains to Sea. Each one is a different chapter in our gin story - crafted to be savoured, shared, and remembered.
Papaiti Gin is about more than just spirits; it’s about connection. It’s about raising a glass to the people and places that shape us. It’s about bringing friends together, sparking conversations, and creating memories.
We’re proud to be a small part of Whanganui’s vibrant creative scene, and even prouder to be part of the growing movement putting New Zealand spirits on the world map.
Thanks for stopping by - and cheers to the stories we’ll share, one sip at a time.