SUNDAY STAR TIMES | BEST PLACES IN NEW ZELAND TO EXPERIENCE MAORI CUISINE

Indigenous Flavours Redefined: New Zealand’s Māori Cuisine Revolution

For luxury travellers seeking a truly authentic and elevated culinary experience, Māori cuisine—kai Māori—offers a journey like no other. A growing number of chefs across Aotearoa are reimagining traditional ingredients and methods with a modern twist, creating fine-dining experiences grounded in indigenous knowledge, culture, and sustainability.

This new wave of Māori gastronomy blends local storytelling with seasonal ingredients such as tītī (muttonbird), kina (sea urchin), hāngī-cooked pork, karamū berries, and tī kōuka (cabbage tree) hearts. For discerning guests of luxury lodges or gourmet explorers planning a high-end escape, here are New Zealand’s top kai Māori experiences not to miss.

Blue Rose Café – Auckland

The Cult-Favourite Hāngī Pie and Pacific Classics

Nestled in the heart of Auckland, Blue Rose Café pays homage to Māori and Pasifika home cooking. Signature dishes include the legendary hāngī pie, mussel fritters, lu’au, and koko Samoa chocolate cake—all served with warmth and pride. The café is a casual stop, yet the flavours are deep, nostalgic, and unforgettable.

KiwiKai – Nelson

Simple, Organic Māori Seafood with Soul

Located in Nelson, KiwiKai is known for its sustainable and wholesome approach to Māori food. Founder Reni Wereta-Gargiulo uses traditional kaimoana and native ingredients in pared-back, health-conscious recipes. Think pāua patties, mussel pies, and fry bread, with a rotating menu grounded in seasonal harvests and ancestral knowledge.

Hapuku Kitchen – Kaikōura

Garden-to-Table Cooking Classes on a Luxury Coastal Estate

For guests staying at luxury coastal properties or passing through Kaikōura, Hapuku Kitchen offers immersive cooking classes amidst stunning alpine-meets-ocean views. Former MasterChef Fiona Read leads workshops that highlight native produce from the onsite garden, often involving visits to meet their heritage animals and culminate in elegant seasonal feasts.

Treetops Lodge & Estate – Rotorua

Wild Food Cooking School & Māori Food Trail for Lodge Guests

Set in a 2,500-acre native forest near Rotorua, Treetops Lodge & Estate offers two standout culinary experiences:

• The Māori Food Trail—a guided foraging walk with educational insights on native herbs, plants, and their uses.
  
• The Wild Food Cooking School, where luxury lodge guests gather ingredients and learn how to prepare them alongside professional chefs.
  

A quintessential pairing of eco-luxury and indigenous cuisine, ideal for food-lovers staying at five-star retreats in the central North Island.

Karaka Café – Wellington

Māori Comfort Food in a Prime Waterfront Setting

Located beside Wellington’s Whairepo Lagoon, Karaka Café offers the perfect balance of casual dining and cultural richness. Guests can try modernised classics like mean Māori pizza with hāngī toppings, seafood fritters, palusami croquettes, and kawakawa-spiced chicken—all with views of the harbour. A sun-soaked gem perfect for relaxed daytime indulgence.

🌿 A Luxury Culinary Journey through Māori Culture

Whether you're staying at a luxury lodge, visiting as part of a high-end tour, or simply seeking the most authentic and immersive food experiences New Zealand has to offer, the country’s flourishing Māori cuisine scene will delight the senses and nourish the soul. From award-winning restaurants to remote forest cooking schools, kai Māori is redefining New Zealand’s place on the world’s gastronomic map.

📍Plan Your Culinary Adventure in Aotearoa

Discover a new world of indigenous flavour. For personalised recommendations or to craft a luxury lodge itinerary with a focus on food and culture, get in touch with our team.