On 19 June 2025, DB welcomed kaumātua from our local iwi, Tainui, and around 50 employees to a dawn ceremony to bless and gift a name to the lake at our Waitematā Brewery.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s demographics are changing fast, and the naming and blessing of the lake acknowledges DB’s connection to the land, its history, local community and mana whenua.

It also serves as a powerful reminder of our commitment to caring for people and planet, aligning with DB’s EverGreen 2030 strategic focus on strengthening cultural diversity and creating a more inclusive workplace.

As the cultural make-up of DB’s workforce continues to evolve, it’s increasingly important that our business is a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging. This inclusivity supports our ability to attract and retain the best people, enabling us to deliver our strategy and perform at our best.

The name gifted to the lake by local iwi is Taramainuku, after the guardian, protector and taniwha associated with the Manukau Harbour, Ōtara and South Auckland’s rivers.

This name deepens our connection to the land, its history, the community and the mana whenua.

The history of Lake Taramainuku

Originally built in 1947 as a cooling pond during the brewery’s post-WWII expansion, the lake was made bigger in the 1950s, before being resized to its current footprint and repurposed for stormwater management.

Since 2017, the site has been transformed through native planting and the addition of a walking path. Today, it supports wildlife and helps protect the quality of water flowing into the Tāmaki Estuary. It stands as a tangible expression of our ambition towards kaitiakitanga – the guardianship of our people and environment.