Richard Macdonald is the founder of the water company Alkaline Water Aotearoa.
Alkaline Water Aotearoa? AWA comes from the world’s highest natural pH source of water under Riverhead. Full of health boosting minerals. The company is a New Zealand owned and operated business and Richard believe’s in giving back AWA are a generous supporter of www.kiwisforkiwi.org
How has drinking water changed the kiwi way of life and attitude?
AWA receives wonderful anecdotes when doing in-store promotions and emails from AWA lovers about the personal health improvements our clients notice. Less acid reflux, improved skin, better sleep, improved hydration and many more.
The red in the AWA label what is the story behind the red label?
Auckland has 53 volcanic cones and craters and our deep aquifers flow through ancient volcanic rock. Hot Magma is red, hence AWA is one of the few global water brands with a red label.
What do you like the most about Ponsonby?
The diversity of café, restaurant and niche retail options like ECOSTORE make Ponsonby a New Zealand icon.
How did you survive your business the pandemic?
AWA was of course an essential business and we were extremely busy keeping our Rare Alkaline Water in stores. The big pandemic change was the new demand for Home Delivery and this keeps growing right into 2025.
What was your childhood like?
Very happy with all school holidays spent in the mountains of Central Otago.
If you could star in a movie with any living or dead actor or actress, who would it be and why?
Tom Cruise, as he loves New Zealand and together he could expand my appetite for high risk pursuits.
Which TV series would you never miss?
Coronation Street, since 1960 it has been showing us how horrible British life is for tens of millions of people.
Your dream holiday internationally?
Spending 2 hours on both sides of the moon and the extraordinary 3 days each way looking at our beautiful fragile earth.
Your bucket list?
A return visit to Iran when things are quieter.
The most kiwi thing about you?
Giving back to help others reach their full potential.
What is the best day of your life to-date?
Raising two healthy children to have productive lives.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Keeping on supplying more people AWA and hearing their positive feedback.
What job would you do other than your own and why?
War correspondent speaking six languages, as we all need to know the unfiltered truth about everything.
If they were to make a movie about your life, who would you like to play you?
Brad Pitt.
What was the last thing you bought that you regretted?
Culley's Fck Me That's Hot Sauce. I thought the Kiwifruit would be nice. Far too hot !
If you were reincarnated, what would you be?
Nelson Mandela.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Nothing.
What is a project you are looking forward to?
Frozen bananas coated in dark chocolate.
How would you like to be remembered?
I did it my way.
What do you love most about your age?
You learn from your mistakes.
Which item do you wish would come back into fashion?
V.W. Beetle
Describe one of your biggest disappointments?
The debt New Zealand’s Government added 2020 to 2023. We now pay $9 Billion in interest per anum.
If you won a million dollars what is the first thing you would do?
Give it all to an innovation fund to be contested for and overseen by Sir Peter Beck.
What’s inspired you recently?
Alexei Navalny’s book PATRIOT.
What's the best movie you've ever seen and why?
Oceans by David Attenborough, we must stop all bottom trawling for fish immediately.
How do you chill out?
SUP / Stand up Paddleboard.
Which item of clothing can't you live without?
Hoodie.
Your favorite place to holiday in New Zealand?
Golden Bay.
What is your most treasured possession?
GPS.
What is your greatest fear?
A slow death.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction and why?
James Bond, action man whom hot women love.
What superpower do you wish you had?
Instant travel across a city or the globe.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Speak like Tony Robbins, but in 3 languages.
What cliché do you most hate?
“to be honest”.
What is your comfort food?
THAI.
If you could change one law or policy in New Zealand, what would it be?
Ban slow drivers from the right lane!
https://awawater.co.nz
