Meet the People - 14

Mark Dillon. Photos Supplied.

Another in the series Meet the People – Ordinary and Extraordinary New Zealanders Doing Interesting Things – Mark Dillon will be super busy this spring – picking elderflowers! When most of us are sitting back admiring the daffodils Mark will be shepherding his team of flower pickers in South Canterbury, gathering as many of these tiny white flowers as he can. Freshly-picked elderflowers form the core of his thriving new business, Aroha, which produces a rich elderflower cordial and a tasty range of aerated elderflower drinks in flavour-partnership with old Kiwi favourites like rhubarb, feijoa and vanilla. Based on his mother’s elderflower cordial recipe – given to her 30 years ago by some Danish visitors – the drinks are a big hit…. especially with me. They’ve also caught the eye of big players like 42 Below, one of New Zealand’s most successful drinks companies on the international market in years. Mark has had discussions with the 42 Below team about the possibility of an exciting new drink. That should be something worth waiting for. www.arohadrinks.com