Food

The First We Eat Festival is returning to Tauranga in March, with tickets on track to sell out.

More than 100 Taitokerau Northland hospitality businesses, growers and producers gathered as part of the Food & Beverage Industry Hui at Russell’s The Duke of Marlborough.

The people have spoken and the official list of 100 Iconic Auckland Eats is now live.

Air New Zealand is bringing gourmet food to its regional lounges in response to customer feedback about the variety of choices compared to what is offered at larger ports.

New offerings and old favourites are set to return to the 36th Marlborough Wine & Food Festival featuring 30+ wineries and 15+ food trucks next year.

Sustainability is a major focus at the 2022 Horowhenua Taste Trail this year, with its 16 producer participants aiming to lessen the food event’s impact on the environment.

Food tourism stalwart Kim Thorp has been crowned the 2022 F.A.W.C! Hawke’s Bay Legend.

The leftover food from the ferry operator’s onboard cafés will go to people in need around Auckland.

Otago wine and food festival Ripe will return to the shores of Lake Wānaka on Saturday 18 March 2023 after Covid forced the cancellation of the 2022 event.

About 12,000 food lovers and 250 vendors are expected at this year’s Kāpiti Food Fair in December – and a plan is underway to ensure sustainability is a top priority.

Northland Inc has launched a food and beverage marketing campaign enticing visitors to explore the region’s hospitality and indulge in “Long Lunching, Northland Style”.

The Headwaters Eco Lodge in Glenorchy will host a two-day event showcasing premium wines and cuisine this month.

There are just two days left until nominations close for the annual Iconic Auckland Eats programme.

Blenheim visitors and locals will enjoy more space to taste Marlborough food at the Bayley’s Friday Night Feast event this year.

The 21st annual Beervana festival attracted beer lovers from all around the world to Wellington’s SKY Stadium last weekend.

The 2022 Matariki Dish Challenge in Rotorua and Bay of Plenty have showcased the best of the region’s storytelling and food, with four winners crowned.

The Horowhenua Taste Trail is returning in 2022 following a three-year hiatus, promising a showcase of some of the region’s most successful family food businesses.

Large venues around the country are following the lead of Venues Ōtautahi, which has spent the past two years overhauling its supply chain to support local food producers.

The airline is also rolling out new sustainable serviceware, removing around 28 million single-use plastic dishes, knives, forks and spoons.

Wānaka food and wine festival Ripe will take place online on 19 March, the same day the cancelled live event was due to take place.

Winetopia is heading to Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch this winter.

Organisers the Marlborough Winegrowers Association said on Wednesday that given staff shortages in the industry it did want to risk the grape harvest, which runs from February to April.

Southland could become a hotbed of food activity under new plans to transform the regional home of Bluff Oysters into a food tourism mecca.

Pounamu Tourism Group has opened what it says is “New Zealand’s most extensive collections of craft chocolate brands”. 

A festival of carbon-zero New Zealand food will run alongside a new event in Auckland next year addressing the world’s agrifood climate challenge.

Wānaka wine and food festival Ripe is returning after a successful inaugural year.

Developing a deeper engagement with New Zealand’s food system from production to consumption would unlock a greater opportunity to build cross-sector connections between the food and tourism industries.

The Eat.Taste.Central food and wine month in Central Otago has opened a short window for hospitality and accommodation operators to come on board.

NZ’s food and beverage industry must build up its story for when international visitors return, says Wellington Culinary Events’ CEO.

New project framework developed with STAPP funding, aims to continue domestic tourism momentum.

Do you know someone big in Hawke’s Bay food and wine?

New Wānaka-based business Forage & Feast aims to showcase Central Otago’s locally cultivated food and chefs through an “immersive culinary adventure”.

A new event to support Southland’s hospitality and accommodation sector and boost the region’s reputation as a food and beverage destination will run from 1 April to 16 May 2021.

Closed international borders meant the operator had to find a new way to support themselves. 

Recognised in Lonely Planet’s Best Native Food category, Hiakai combined traditional Māori ingredients and cooking methods with a contemporary spin.

Feast Marlborough will feature a series of food and beverage events over summer to help offset the impact of Covid-19 on the region’s economy.

Naturally West Coast Food 2020 would run over the month of November and feature signature dishes from local restaurants and cafés.

A new wine and food festival has been announced for Wānaka, taking place over Otago Anniversary weekend next year. 

A new initiative to boost Auckland’s hospitality sector and build Auckland’s reputation as a food and beverage destination has launched.

Venture Taranaki is seeking proposals for developing the region as a food tourism destination, as well as any potential product offerings that may be involved within the project.

Hawke’s Bay Tourism facilitated the F.A.W.C! programme twice a year on behalf of the region’s food and wine industries.

Great South have engaged Eat New Zealand to help develop its regional Food Tourism Strategy.

Tourism Central Otago has launched its annual month-long food and wine event. 

The initiative runs for 12 months and is promoted by Eat New Zealand, a not-for-profit collective, promoting New Zealand’s food stories and its people to the world.