Healthier RTD to give rhinos a hand
A ‘‘SOBERING’’ encounter with a black rhino served as an inspiration for a University of Otago student, who has launched an RTD with a difference that helps to save African wildlife.
Oliver Deane (22), who now lives in Auckland, returned to Dunedin earlier this month to launch ‘‘White Rhino’’, a healthier RTD he created with his brother William (20).
The RTD was made with gin, lemon and sparkling water and less than one gram of sugar, and 10% of profits from the drink will go towards preventing rhino poaching in Africa.
‘‘The idea for a beverage without all the nasties came . . . during 2017 ReOrientation Week in Dunedin.
‘‘We were pretty over the sugary and artificial RTDs on the market, so mixing our own gin, lemon and water was the way to go,’’ Oliver said.
He graduated with a bachelor of commerce in marketing and a bachelor of arts in geography last year, and credited his time in Dunedin for the birth of his and his brother’s company Part Time Rangers.
‘‘The marketing side of things fuelled a lot of creativity and having the geography helped a lot with the social enterprise aspect of the business.’’
A trip through the Serengeti National Park in 2014 during a stint of humanitarian work sparked the brothers’ passion for wildlife and conservation.
‘‘One key moment was our one and only sighting of a black rhino. We were awestruck.
‘‘It was a pretty sobering moment. We thought this might be the last time we have the privilege of seeing a wild rhino on this earth,’’ he said.
The brothers had teamed up with Saving The Wild, conservationists who strive to expose corruption and combat the illegal rhino horn trade.
The drink was launched in Dunedin on July 9 at Leith Street Liquorland, and an official launch event was held on Stafford St on July 14.
‘‘Dunedin was the birthplace for this entire project, so it seemed very fitting to launch where it all began.
‘‘The people are amazing and the support we received in our first week has proved that everyone wants to help this cause.’’
About 500 people attended the launch, which featured performances from Marlin’s Dreaming, Groove Service and — naturally — DJ Rhino.