Matariki Wines in receivership

Matariki Wines - a well-known, award winning Hawke's Bay winery - is in receivership.

The company is owned by O'Connor Family Holdings. Its directors are John O'Connor - a former junior All Black - and Rosemary O'Connor.

PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed as receivers last week but were not immediately available for comment.

The winery is in the Gimblett Gravels area, a well-known grape growing area in the Hawke's Bay. Its wines have won several awards. Last year its 2007 "Quintology" wine won a gold at the Hawke's Bay A&P Mercedes-Benz Wine Awards.

It was established by the O'Connors in 1981 when they returned to New Zealand after studying wine in Europe.