Nga Waka Vineyard was established as a family business by Roger and Carol Parkinson in 1988, with the objective of producing small volumes of top quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc wines. The name, Nga Waka, was taken from Maori Legend, which has it that the three hills behind Martinborough were formed by the three canoes (waka) of the famed Polynesian explorer Kupe, and that these canoes were carried inland by a huge earthquake to come to rest in their present location. Nga Waka Wines have an established reputation for quality and consistency.