New Zealand cuisine is a combination of traditional and modern flavours, and it presents a rich and diverse culinary experience. From sampling a Māori hangi and indulging in the country’s national dish to dining under starlight in some beautiful scenery, every meal is accompanied by a fascinating story.
This travel guide features the must-try food spots in Auckland, Wellington, Kaikōura, and Hawke’s Bay, where there’s fresh seafood, local specialties, and international-standard restaurants waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re in the mood for casual grub, fine dining, or farm-to-table, discover the flavours that characterize Kiwi food and where to enjoy them throughout the country.
Traditional Maori cuisine employs basic preparation techniques highlighting local indigenous ingredients. The most renowned traditional cooking technique is the hangi, which involves cooking using heat stones buried in the ground.
This underground cooking method gives lamb, pork, and chicken a smoky, tender taste. It also enables roasting of potatoes, kumara (sweet potatoes), and cabbage. Hangi foods are traditionally eaten at big feasts and gatherings.
The boil-up is another traditional Maori favourite – a thick, rich stew that has pork, potatoes, kumara, green leafy greens like puha (sow thistle), and flour dumplings called “doughboys.” It’s really just a very plain, home-style dish that uses the freshest locally grown ingredients and nothing more.
The New Zealand cuisine is a blend of Pacific, Asian, and British influences. Fish and chips and meat pies, including paua pies, became popular foods in New Zealand after the British brought them to the Kiwis.
Pacific Islanders brought with them the taro and coconut staples, which were incorporated into local fare. Asian cuisine brought sushi, curries, and noodle soups to the country.
Nowadays, Kiwi chefs are renowned for putting their visitors into ecstasy with their ingenuity in mixing different flavours and then promoting New Zealand’s multicultural food culture at its best.
Quite a few Kiwis like to start their day with a light meal like Weet-Bix with milk or toast with marmite or jam, as well as a cup of tea or coffee. In colder periods, they most want a hot bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar and cream. This will help you to warm up to the weather a bit.
On weekends or other special days, a cooked breakfast is a special little treat for everybody. It is often composed of eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, and hash browns, very much like an English breakfast.
A unique addition to the Kiwi breakfast table is the bubble and squeak—a toasted and crunchy mixture of leftover potatoes and cabbage, commonly served with eggs and bacon. It shows a good example of how Kiwis use their food resourcefully
A typical lunch in New Zealand is quick, and a convenient example is meat pies. This on-the-go delicacy is stuffed with minced meat, delicious sauce, and sometimes cheese, onions, or mushrooms. It is a top pick for lunch because it is the perfect choice for those who want to enjoy their meal while being active. This is also a perfect choice for those who love to eat on the go.
Both New Zealanders and Australians see meat pies as a national staple. An indigenous Kiwi interpretation of the traditional pie is the paua pie, filled with local abalone in a creamy sauce. Whether it is from a bakery, café, or food truck, a warm meat pie is a true taste of New Zealand.
New Zealanders enjoy warm, comforting food for dinner. While they enjoy food like meat pies and bubble and squeak at any time, roast dinners and hangi are slower to prepare and, therefore, evening meals are reserved for special occasions. Dinner eating of food offers a time for people to get together, irrespective of the type of meal being eaten.
New Zealand food is a fusion of Māori, European, and modern flavours. Every dish has a story to tell, from the smoky hangi to the classic meat pie. The majority of Kiwis are foodies, and they love healthy and fresh food. One thing about New Zealand is that wherever you go, there is always something tasty to uncover.
