Have your say! January 2021 Update

Ngā mihi o te tau hou, Happy New Year everyone!

We hope you’ve had a wonderful break and had delicious food to fill your plates. I know I had many moments of feeling incredibly grateful to be in this beautiful, abundant and safe country. We’re beginning the new year (our sixth year) refreshed, but also determined. It will be a defining year for many reasons, and we’re convinced good kai from Aotearoa has an important role to play. As a grass roots movement we will always be directed by what our community wants us to be.

From the beginning we have sat across the food system; from production, through food transformation and experience. Eat New Zealand is an inclusive platform that allows us to stand together to connect people to our land through our food.

To that end we’ve designed a survey to help you inform us of what comes next. We would really appreciate you finding five minutes to take it. Doing so could mean you receive a beautiful box of New Zealand cheeses or Grater Goods vegan products (for those who don’t dairy). It’s a genuine opportunity to contribute to the future of Eat New Zealand, and we hope you can find a moment.

Take the survey here.

Mauri ora,

Angela Clifford CE Eat New Zealand

The Almighty Mānuka

• Onetai (pronounced Or-neh-tai): a milk and mānuka honey based treat reminiscent of dulce de leche. This decadent multi-use spread, topping or drink is inspired by Onetai Station on the rugged West Coast. Find it here.
• Wai Mānuka: Mānuka honey sparkling water. A highly nutritious, alcohol free beverage made in Whatakāne that combines NZ mānuka honey, lemon juice and sparkling water. Created by three friends determined to stay in touch, read more of their story here.

Kaitaki: Have bones? Will broth!

To shine a light on last month's Kaitaki topic of Food Waste, Kaitaki Collective member, Phil Varley of Pihi Farms in North Canterbury, takes us through his step by step guide to transforming beef bones into nutritious broth and flavourful lard and shares a few thoughts on the subject below...

"All life is sacred. We should respect every part of the plant or animal we consume. By respecting our food; where it was raised, how it was grown, the interactions it had during its life, how it was harvested, prepared, stored, cooked and consumed, we gain a whole new appreciation. This appreciation allows us to see the true value of it and look for ways to fully utlise all that we harvest." You can read more from Phil here.

Remember to keep an eye out across our various platforms as we share more from our collective of young New Zealand food guides. #Kaitaki

Food for your ears.

Regional Food Events: Jan / Feb 2021.

Bridge Pa Wine Festival, Hawke’s Bay, January 23rd A celebration of all things grape held at the the largest wine growing area of the Hawkes Bay Bridge Pa Triangle.

The Great Kiwi Beer Festival, Christchurch, January 30th The premier celebration of the stories and faces behind New Zealand's booming craft beer industry. Stage in the North of Hagley Park, it will host more than forty breweries, with more than 300 unique brews and ciders on tap all day.

First We Eat, Food & Wine Festival, Tauranga, January 30th A brand new festival combining all the best things in life, food, beverages and music. NZ’s leading musicians including Dave Dobbyn and The Feelers join celebrity chefs Kasey & Kārena Bird alongside a host of food vendors, local brewers and wineries, from 12pm - 7pm at Wharepai Domain.

Gindulgence Gin Festival, Wellington 30th-31st Jan Christchurch 27th-28th Feb New Zealand's original single-site gin festival and indulge in an afternoon of tastings, distiller talks, cocktails, great local food and live entertainment.

Central Otago Craft Beer Festival, Alexandra, Sat 6th February The 8th Central Otago craft beer, wine, food and music festival and this one is shaping up to go one better than the last held at Pioneer Park in Alexandra.

The Bay of Plenty Gincredible, Tauranga, 12th - 14th February Back for its third year, a boutique celebration of food, entertainment and craft gin – distilled from a small number of artisan producers, gin masterclasses, plenty of G&T's and a host of local food vendors.

Wellington Wine & Food Festival, Waitangi Park. Sat 13th February A day that brings together local cuisines, with local wineries, breweries the outdoors, great music and fun with friends. Affordable and delicious food options provided by top local restaurants with a $12 limit.

Sunsetter Food, Wine and Music Festival, Takapuna, Sat 13th February Some of NZ's top wineries, breweries and eateries will dish up all the goods at Smales Farm in Takapuna, alongside an impressive selection of music.

Big Buzz Festival, Matakana, Sunday 14th February A festival to celebrate all things honey and bees from the plate, to the health shop, to the garden, to cosmetics, conservation and beyond.

Banks Peninsula Festival, Lyttelton, Saturday 20th February Nestled on the sun drenched side of Lyttelton Harbour, Orton Bradley Park plays home to the Banks Peninsula Festival: a vibrant showcase of music, food, beverage and culture from around the region.

Twizel Salmon & Wine Festival, Saturday 27th February Ready for it's 16th year, a new venue at Lake Ruataniwha will host a day of tasting local salmon, plus beer and wine from a collection of the South Island's best craft breweries and boutique wineries.

Motueka Kai Fest, Sunday 28th February Held at the Goodman Reserve there will be entertainment stages, lots of kai with local flavours, a bar serving locally sourced drinks, performances from local Iwi & the circus plus workshops, educational initiatives and a cook off competition!