National Spotlight on North Canterbury’s Food & Drink Leadership

North Canterbury’s food and beverage sector is gaining national recognition with Enterprise North Canterbury’s Chief Executive Heather Warwick named among Aotearoa’s most inspirational women in food and drink for 2026 by Cuisine Magazine.

The annual list celebrates leaders shaping Aotearoa New Zealand’s food and drink story through innovation, collaboration and regional impact. Heather’s inclusion reflects more than two decades of leadership advancing North Canterbury’s economic development and championing the region’s producers.

Under Heather’s leadership, Enterprise North Canterbury has strengthened the region’s nationally recognised food and beverage sector through the development of MADE NORTH CANTERBURY – North Canterbury’s provenance brand celebrating authenticity, traceability and place of origin.

Over the past year, MADE NORTH CANTERBURY has expanded its network of producers and makers, strengthened storytelling around the region’s distinctive food basket and led campaigns including The North Course and the MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Pie Trail.

“This recognition is really about the producers, growers and makers who bring North Canterbury’s food story to life,” says Heather Warwick. “MADE NORTH CANTERBURY was created to elevate their work and showcase provenance and it’s an honour to see our region’s collective efforts acknowledged nationally.”

The MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Pie Trail was also named a finalist in the national Economic Development New Zealand awards, further highlighting the region’s growing reputation for food tourism and provenance-led storytelling.

View the full list of inspirational women in food and drink for 2026 here.