Michael Erceg

Michael Anthony Erceg (26 March 1956 – 4 November 2005) was a New Zealand businessman who founded Independent Liquor, which was New Zealand’s largest independently owned liquor distributor, known for its Ready to Drink (RTD) brands such as KGB, Woodstock and Vodka Cruisers.

At the time of his death in 2005, Erceg was one of the New Zealand's wealthiest individuals.

Early life Erceg was born in West Auckland to a Croatian winemaking family and Vinka; his mother was Millie Erceg. He attended Kelston Boys High School.

Business career Founding Independent Liquor (1987–2000) Erceg soon returned to New Zealand to help with his ailing father's wine business in West Auckland. However, after a family disagreement over the direction of the wine company, Erceg left the company and formed Calypso Beverage Company Ltd in 1987. This business evolved to Independent Liquor.

Expansion and sales (2001–2005) In November 2005, his personal fortune was estimated at $600 million, making him the second richest man in Auckland. The sale of Independent Liquor was approved by Erceg's widow in late 2006. At the time of the sale, Independent had 65% of the NZ market and 30% of the Australian market for RTD products, with brands including Woodstock Bourbon & Cola, Vodka Cruiser, Pulse and Purple Goanna, among others. Independent was sold to Asahi for $1.5 billion in 2011. In 2017, Independent Liquor was the largest "ready-to-drink" liquor company in New Zealand. On July 1, 2019, Independent Liquor (NZ) Ltd officially changed its name to Asahi Beverages (NZ) Ltd.

Personal life and death Erceg married Lynette (Lyn) Erceg later in his life. Lynette had a son, Matthew Pringle, from a previous relationship, whom Erceg treated as a stepson.

In his will, Erceg left $5 million to Pringle, alongside bequests to other family members and employees including $5 million to his sister Vinka, $2 million to his mother Millie, and $1 million each to five senior executives.

Following Erceg's death, Lynette Erceg became New Zealand's first female billionaire after selling Independent Liquor, with Forbes magazine estimating her fortune at $1.28 billion and ranking her 19th on its Australasian rich list.

By 2017, the Erceg family fortune was estimated at $1.65 billion, placing the family fifth on the National Business Review Rich List.

Lynette Erceg was also named as one of New Zealand's top 50 private landowners, holding 9,214 hectares of land including Lake Ohau Station in the Mackenzie Basin, in an analysis of Land Information New Zealand data published by RNZ and Stuff in 2019.

Matthew Pringle went on to lead Manuka Doctor and Honey New Zealand, becoming a prominent New Zealand businessman. In 2026, New Zealand media reported on his successful appeal against a costs order arising from family court proceedings in England involving Australian musician Olivia Nervo.

In November 2005, Erceg died in a helicopter accident. The helicopter he was piloting crashed near Raglan. Also killed was his passenger Guus Klatte, export director of Grolsch International. The wreckage was not found for two weeks. His ELT antenna on his Eurocopter EC120B was broken, so distress pings went unheard. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the ensuing search became one of the largest and most expensive search-and-rescue operations ever conducted in New Zealand. He and Klatte were said to have died on impact.

Two trusts he set up before his death, the Acorn Foundation and Independent Group Trust, both involving shares in his businesses, were later the subject of several legal battles involving beneficiaries. Their value was estimated at $1.2 billion in 2005 and 2006.