Savour Northland

17/06/2026

If you are in the Bay of Islands this week please put a feast at MĀHA at wharepuke on your menu!! Japanese cuisine with a kiwiana twist. This sounds utterly divine 😋

This is it, our Izakaiya week is in full swing, inspired by Japanese culture with Kiwiana twist, plates big and small, eat round after round of great food and easygoing cocktails, shared with friends and family. Stay warm in our cosy dining room. Best way to reach the state of māha!

22/05/2026

Good to see our awesome local produce infiltrating the South 🦪❤️

07/05/2026

Our 2025 Savour Northland Challenge Supreme Champs are celebrating their 2 year anniversary this June! They are a great example of making it work despite all the challenges being thrown at our industry at the moment. If you haven't tasted their food yet, here's your chance! Music from the amazing Ngati Soul Music, Ewshhproductions, lock in a primo night!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CYbgEm5KE/

Here in the Mighty Far North Kerikeri, sits a little spot on the further end of town,�Where people travel from near and far to dine and gather round.
Where flavours dance with artistry, where every plate is made with care,�And music, laughter, love and warmth move gently through the air.
A place where strangers become friends before the evening’s through,�Where good food feeds the body and good company feeds the soul in you.

Kai Mata Restaurant — more than just a place to eat and roam,�For many who arrive there, it somehow feels like home.

Kai Mata Restaurant invites
you to celebrate its 2nd birthday.
Join us on 24th June, 5pm-9pm.

02/05/2026

A fantastic initiative to help families tackle rising food costs and minimise waste…check out the details of the programme below led by the amazing Anna Valentine ❤️

Join an Every Bite programme and learn to save money and food.

04/04/2026

Massive congrats to Mickey, Adi and all the team at Tipsy oyster tapas and bar in Paihia! 👏
🏆 Best Seafood Burger in New Zealand 🍾🦪
Nice work team Tipsy! ❤️

Eatery's oyster burger has been on the menu since 2019 and has become its ‘crown jewel’.

31/03/2026

🔥Congratulations to Zack Melville - 2nd Place in the Tai Tokerau Low & Slow Kids Barbecue Competition 2026 🔥🏆

Zack is from Auckland and he is only 9 years old.
He surprised the judges with a very different use of the local fish supplied, serving Ika Mata Cups😋

Raw Trevally and coconut salad. He served it in some of his own home-made crunchy tortilla cups he made by cutting a smaller circle from large tortillas, then pressing them into a muffin mould and baking till golden brown.🔥

This was another entry that we devoured! It was soooo good 🔥 Well done Zack, you really impressed us all 👏

📷 All photos supplied by Rum and Que

A huge thanks to the sponsors of the Kids Comp, especially fish4tucker for heaps of goodies, Air New Zealand, Savour Northland, Barbecue BOI and Stef the Maori

Northland NZ Northland Inc The Old Packhouse Kerikeri NZ Barbecue Alliance

29/03/2026

🔥Congratulations to Connor Glentworth - 1st Place in the Tai Tokerau Low & Slow Kids Barbecue Competition 2026 🔥🏆

The competition was open to kids aged 6 - 14 years and they had to use locally-sourced fish as their hero ingredient.

Connor is a local Kerikeri lad and has just turned 14. His entry was Fish Bao Buns 😋
Panko crumb with Rum & Que Hazy IPA. Drizzled with a Connor created sauce, soy, honey and homemade chilli jam. He added locally sourced micro greens, homemade red pickled onions.
Smothered with chilli jam mayo. Finished off with some finger lime caviar.🔥

We got to taste all the entries, it was an incredibly high standard that blew us all away...but this was OFF THE CHART delicious, beautiful presentation and packed with creativity and local Northland goodness that wowed the judges 👏 Watch out adults...

A huge thanks to the sponsors of this prize package valued at $1000. Air New Zealand ($750 of flight credit), fish4tucker for heaps of goodies, Savour Northland and Barbecue BOI.

Northland NZ Northland Inc The Old Packhouse Kerikeri NZ Barbecue Alliance

16/03/2026

We are excited to support the Fired Up Barbecue Festival alongside our amazing sponsor Air New Zealand. We both want to see more kids getting involved in cooking and creating... and a great way to start is by firing up the BBQ 🔥 $1000 Prize Pack! Details below 👇

Got the kids FIRED UP about BBQ?? 🔥 Start them on the competition journey...we have a MASSIVE $1000 Prize Pack up for grabs thanks to Air New Zealand, fish4tucker, Savour Northland and Tai Tokerau Low & Slow BBQ Comp 🏆 Fish burgers, tacos...let their imagination run wild!
🎫 $25 Entry Fee
🎏 Ages 6 - 14yrs old
🐟 Protein this year is locally sourced fish (provided)
🔥 BYO Barbecue, seasonings, additional ingredients, responsible adult...
Register online at Eventfinda NZ or call Ken at Barbecue BOI
Big thanks to our supporters and sponsors for this one 🙌


The Old Packhouse Kerikeri, Jacman Entertainment, NZ Barbecue Alliance, Northland Inc Northland NZ

28/11/2025

The Northland Inc Savour Northland Challenge Grand Champion Kai Mata Restaurant put Kerikeri on a plate and in a glass with their winning entry!

Using local MAX Coffee Roasters they created a Coffee rubbed wagyu short rib served with kumara, onion and espresso crumble.

They paired this with a cocktail: “Boulevadier of the North” with 144 Islands Kawa (an Amaro, made by blending distillates of the barks of several native New Zealand trees, including Kauri, Rimu and Pohutukawa), Max Coffee infused bourbon and 144 Islands Vermouth No.2.

Innovative, showcasing Northland producers and ingredients and incredibly delicious, this entry was a standout. Entrants are also judged on their service and manaakitanga and Kai Mata Restaurant excelled in this area as well.

All round a deserving Savour Northland Champion 2025 🥂

26/11/2025

**CONGRATULATIONS TO THE Northland Inc SAVOUR NORTHLAND CHALLENGE WINNERS 2025!**

The region’s food and beverage industry came together in the Bay of Islands on Monday 10 November, to mark the culmination of the month-long Savour Northland celebration with the 2025 Awards Night - an evening of recognition, connection and celebration of local excellence.

Across the event month, 54 events were held, and more than 2,200 challenge dishes were sold across 24 participating venues, illustrating the strong engagement of hospitality operators and the appetite from visitors and locals alike for Northland’s food and beverage and exclusive experiences.

Thank you to all 2025 participants, you showcased Northland superbly and a massive congratulations to all the winners!

2025 Savour Northland Award Winners

🏆Best Marketing Award: Dancing Petrel
🏆Best New Event: Origin Northland
🏆Outstanding Event: Sage Restaurant at Paroa Bay
🏆Hero Ingredient (Haku Kingfish): Charlotte’s Kitchen
🏆Hero Ingredient (Kumara): The Duke of Marlborough
🏆Hero Ingredient (Subtropical fruits): Terra Restaurant
🏆Creative Culinary Award: Schnappa Rock
🏆Air New Zealand Chef Excellence: Marcus Berndt, Terra Restaurant
🏆Perfect Pairing, Highly Commended: Scenic Hotel, Bay of Islands

And the Grand Prize Winner....

🏆Perfect Pairing, Ultimate Award Winner:
🔥 Kai Mata Restaurant, Kerikeri 🔥

We can't wait to savour and sip with you all again in 2026 🥂

Kai Mata Restaurant Scenic Hotel Group Paroa Bay Winery - SAGE Charlotte's Kitchen Terra Restaurant Charlotte's Kitchen Dancing Petrel Origin Northland The Duke of Marlborough