MEET THE MAKER

Mark Dillon is the founder and owner of Aroha Drinks, specialising in natural beverages and cordials. Established in 2007, Aroha Drinks draws inspiration from traditional recipes and native ingredients. The company’s name, “Aroha,” translates to “love for the land and its people” in Māori, reflecting its commitment to natural and locally sourced products.

The inception of Aroha Drinks was influenced by Dillon’s family history. Years earlier, his mother learned to make elderflower cordial from a French hitchhiker, using wild elderflowers abundant on the Canterbury Plains. This experience, combined with Dillon’s encounters with elderflower beverages in Europe, inspired him to produce his own elderflower cordial in New Zealand. He utilised a traditional family recipe and enlisted friends to harvest wild elderflowers for production.

Aroha Drinks has expanded its product line to include a variety of flavours in both sparkling and still beverage ranges, as well as cordials.  In 2016, Aroha Drinks installed a new bottling line and warehouse at Coes Ford, Canterbury, consolidating all production elements on-site. This integration allows for greater control over the finished product and enhances production efficiency. 

Dillon’s dedication to quality and traditional methods has positioned Aroha Drinks as a notable player in New Zealand’s beverage industry, offering consumers a range of authentic and flavourful drink options.