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43 Must Try Kiwi Food: Best New Zealand Food and Snacks 2024
Food is one of the main reasons I love to travel. Itโs probably one of the main reasons I love life!
As much as I adore curling up with a good book and a plate of Pillsbury cookies, thereโs something uniquely satisfying about eating your way through a country.
Which is exactly what I did in New Zealand.
Moving to New Zealand allowed me to sample almost every national delicacy the country has to offer. While my waistbands are certainly suffering for it, the rest of me is extremely proud to have conquered so much food.
And what a waste it would be to not share the traditional food of New Zealand with you!
Food in New Zealand is really interesting.
You get the British cuisines from their colonial conquerors, the native Maori dishes that utilize the geothermals of the country, and a variety of sweets Iโd never heard of before.
Youโll even encounter some new fruits in New Zealand that make their food a really unique experience.
Letโs dive into all of the New Zealand food you must try when you visit!
This is my favourite tour of New Zealand!
Top 10 Foods in New Zealand
- Meat Pies
- Kiwifruit
- Pavlova
- Lamb
- Hangi
- Whitebait fritters
- Fish and chips
- Lamb
- Cheese roll
- Manuka honey
Classic Kiwi Food
These wonโt be unique to someone from New Zealand, but I was pretty shocked by them.
I assumed that the US grew every type of produce imaginable, so we must get it all in Canada, too.
Nope!
Thereโs tons of fruit and vegetables out there that Iโve never even heard of. New Zealand (and later Singapore) really proved that.
1. Kiwifruit
Itโs impossible to talk about the land of Kiwis and not mention the kiwifruit.
The rest of the world simply knows them as kiwis. Here, youโll get mocked horrendously for saying that. In New Zealand, โkiwisโ are people. โKiwifruitโ is the fruit. And โkiwi birdโ is the bird.
It took me months before I managed to change over.
To learn more Kiwi slang, check out my guide to New Zealand slang and swear words.
Kiwifruit is easy to find in New Zealand. Theyโre in every grocery store all year round. They even sell them in large bundles with a special kiwifruit spoon (itโs a spoon with a knife for a handle so you can eat your kiwifruit on the go).
Kiwifruit can be eaten raw, with the skin on. Most people prefer to remove the skin as itโs got little brown hairs that can feel weird on your tongue. The inside is a slightly acidic green flesh. You often find it in fruit salads around the world.
Kiwifruits are also some of the most reasonably priced fruits at the store. So load up on kiwifruit while you explore the land of the Kiwis!
2. Ruby Kiwifruit
Even Kiwis donโt know about these. Red kiwifruit are red inside and have a berry-like sweetness to them. Theyโre delicious, but the bright red colour in a kiwifruit is so strange that it kind of put me off.
3. Golden Kiwifruit
This is the best new fruit I found in New Zealand. Golden kiwifruit are slightly sweeter than the green ones. The flesh is a bit more yellow and it is less acidic. I found it easier to eat the skin, as well, since theyโre less hairy.
Sometimes green kiwifruit can make my tongue feel weird, like after you eat too much pineapple. Golden kiwifruit never gave me the issue. I happily devoured baskets of them each week.
4. Kiwi Berries
Thatโs right: they even have kiwifruit in berry form in New Zealand!
These grape-sized fruits taste exactly like a kiwifruit. They have no fur on the outside, but otherwise look just like a miniature kiwifruit.
When you bite into them, they even have the same seed pattern!
These are definitely the food I never expected to find in New Zealand, much less anywhere else. If you have the opportunity, you have to try them. Youโll be forever changed.
5. Feijoa
A green fruit that is shaped like an egg and tastes like green apples. Kiwis often use feijoas to make pies or tarts, as you would with any other apple.
People eat them raw, but typically leave off the skin as itโs quite tough.
6. Kumara
A vegetable similar in taste and shape to a sweet potato. It comes in purple (less sweet), orange (mild) and white (sweeter).
Kumara are a polynesian type of sweet potato from what I could find. I found it interested that they had a similar colour spectrum to beets, but they seem to have no relation. Regardless, theyโre best baked into kumara fries or diced and baked, served alongside a roast chicken.
7. Tamarillo
This egg-shaped, red fruit tastes tangy and sweet, like a kiwifruit or a tomato. Tamarillos have a lot of pulp inside, much like the seeds of a tomato.
Theyโre used in cooking in kiwi cuisine sometimes, but are most often eaten raw.
Traditional New Zealand Cuisine
Native New Zealand food is divided into two cuisines: the British and the Maori. This isnโt an official classification, but it becomes pretty clear when you read what the foods are.
Youโll also find that most New Zealand dishes contain fish or meat.
The country has huge swaths of farmland (both the cows and the sheep outnumber the people on the islands). Their vast oceans make it very easy to find lots of fish to fill their plates.
This is my favourite tour of New Zealand!
8. Meat Pies
What would the world be without meat pies? A place I wouldnโt want to live in, thatโs for sure!
Meat pies are HUGE in New Zealand (in popularity, not size). You can find individual sized pies at every dairy (convenience store), gas station, small shop and grocery store in the country.
And they arenโt just meat.
Sure, thereโs the standard mince or mince and cheese pie (made with beef). But thereโs also vegetable, butter chicken, chicken and mushroom, and more to choose from.
At around $6NZD per pie, these are a great snack or cheap meal while travelling.
To get a real Kiwi pie, find one with mashed potatoes on top. Not only are the potatoes delicious, but they soak up the sauce in a mince pie so well. โฆand now Iโm drooling on my keyboard.
Be sure to get a meat pie at least once during your visit to New Zealandโs North Island and New Zealandโs South Island. Theyโre honestly best when theyโre bought from a cheap store.
9. Sausage Sizzle
Aussies have shrimp on the barbie, well Kiwis have saussies (sausages).
A sausage sizzle is a traditional beach meal in New Zealand. I know tons of people who do a sausage sizzle and a clam bake for their Christmas cookouts on the beach (because, yes, New Zealand living means beach Christmases – a clear pro of living in New Zealand).
Sausage sizzles tend to be quick fry ups of sausages. They use white bread instead of buns.
You can top them with tomato sauce (ketchup), BBQ sauce or mustard. Some people add fried onions for an extra bit of zing.
10. Lamb
New Zealand has more sheep than people, so of course itโs known for its lamb.
As someone who detests lamb, I didnโt partake very often. I tried a lamb hangi and a bite of stewed lamb during my time here. Both nearly ended up spat into a napkin.
So, Iโm not the best person to advertise the lamb of New Zealand.
But sometimes itโs not all about me (shocking I know!).
If you like lamb, make sure to try some in New Zealand. Itโs very popular!
There are a number of dishes that involve lamb in the country. Youโll find lamb shanks on every fancy menu in the country. Hangis typically involve lamb as their meat as it stews very nicely. And many individuals do lamb for their holiday celebration meals in New Zealand.
11. Kiwi Burger
A kiwi burger is a particular type of burger in New Zealand. No kiwifruit or kiwibirds are involved, I promise!
This burger is actually sold at McDonalds. Itโs a hamburger with a 4oz beef patty, a fried egg, beetroot, tomato sliced, lettuce, cheese, onions, mustard, ketchup and a toasted bun.
While this is what some people mean by โkiwi burgerโ, the better known burger is from Fergburger in Queenstown. Itโs technically the โgreat kiwi burgerโ, which is where the confusion lies. This burger is made up of a beef patty, tomato slices, red onion, lettuce, aioli and tomato relish and your choice of cheese.
Personally, I think the Fergburger option sounds way more enjoyable.
12. Maori Hangi
Hangi isnโt really a food โ itโs a style of cooking.
In the New Zealand Maori tradition, food is cooked on heated stones in a covered pit. This smokes the meat and softens the vegetables without risk of overcooking.
You can have basically anything in a hangi. Meat and root vegetables are most popular, but even fish can be cooked this way. Lamb cooked in a hangi is supposed to be delicious (I tried it, but my hatred of lamb kept me from enjoying it.).
Although itโs delicious, itโs not very popular in the cities. Youโll need to go to a Maori restaurant or a retreat like the Tamaki Maori Village to try some good hangi.
13. Tuatua
Tuatua is the Maori name for clams. In New Zealand, they can range in size from as big as your thumb to as big as your palm.
People go hunting for them on beaches and boil them up for a quick meal.
If youโre not looking to dig for your food, some restaurants serve tuatua. Head to a fish and chips shop for fried tuatua or to an Italian restaurant for tuatua on pasta. I enjoyed my tuatua during my weekend in Wellington, New Zealandโs capital city.
14. Green-Lipped Mussels
The green-lipped mussel, or kuku in Maori, is the local type of mussel in New Zealand. They have a faint green tinge on the edge of their shell, leading to their name. It is one of the largest mussel species in the world.
You can find amazing green-lipped mussels at the Auckland fish market along the boardwalk. Get some with garlic butter and a side of thin-cut fries to enjoy on a summer afternoon.
Green-lipped mussels are incredibly good for you. They have anti-inflammatory bacteria that can help with inflammation. Itโs not a treatment unto itself and wonโt cure arthritis, but it gives you another reason to eat more of them!
15. Whitebait Fritters
Whitebait are fried young fish. At this point, the fish are still small so their meat is tender. People here eat the entire fish fried in an egg omelette. This omelette is then served on a sandwich.
These fritters are hard to find in major cities, but more regional areas offer them.
The look of the squiggly fish put me off too much to try them, but theyโre supposed to be delicious.
16. Kina (Sea Urchin)
Kina is a traditional Maori cuisine in New Zealand. They are orange sea urchins with tangerine-colored insides. Itโs a delicacy to eat raw kina.
The shell of the urchin is cracked open with a rock. You remove the roe inside and eat it by hand.
Kina are easily found by diving in the oceans around New Zealand. Be sure to get your kina this way as itโs unsustainable if sourced by ocean dredging, which destroys the fragile reefs.
17. Fish and Chips
The British influence on New Zealand food becomes very clear here. The colonial cuisine was slightly adapted though based on the local fish.
New Zealand fish and chips involve battered and fried white fish. This fish can be tarakihi, snapper (my favourite), or hoki. The most sustainable options are kahawai, trevally, and blue mackerel. Try to order these if your local chip shop has them.
New Zealand chips are like British chips: thick cut fries.
You canโt go wrong with fish and chips in New Zealand, especially if you are planning to eat them on the beach. The gulls may be bothersome, but itโs the perfect spot to enjoy a traditional feast like this.
18. Paua
Youโll see a lot of paua shells, the iridescent blue/green shells, around New Zealand. Theyโre popular in decorations and jewellery. But Kiwis also consume the fish inside.
Paua is more commonly known as abalone. They are considered a treasured gift from the god of the sea in Maori culture.
Abalone has firm, meaty flesh thatโs really delicious. It can be hard to find in restaurants, but the local fish markets will definitely have some and give you tips to prepare it.
19. Bluff Oysters (Tio)
New Zealandโs cuisine is really seafood heavy, and I love it! The bluff oysters are fabulous, big oysters with a soft brine. Theyโve been caught off the shores of New Zealand for generations.
To have the best bluff oysters, visit from March to August when theyโre in season. This is winter, but bluff oysters are a great reason to decide that this is the best season to visit New Zealand.
20. Cheese Roll
Cheese rolls are a South Island delicacy. Itโs sort of similar to a Welsh rarebit in that its a bread and cheese based snack.
Kiwis really love their white bread. These cheese rolls are created by mixing onion, Worcestershire sauce and onion soup mix together. Then you mix in the cheese. Coat both sides of the bread with butter, then spread mixture on the inside. Roll the bread into a tube. You can keep it in place by using toothpicks or breaking the crust a bit. Toast the bread until golden.
Cheese rolls are a classic beach New Zealand cuisine to enjoy with some friends. We once made them at an office party and they were gone in seconds!
21. Maori Fry Bread
Maori fry bread is sometimes called a scone. Other times itโs called paraoa parai. It really depends on where youโre looking.
The fry bread is kind of like a savoury doughnut. Itโs made of flour and deep fried to give it a lovely crispness. Itโs best enjoyed with jam and some butter or clotted cream.
22. Spaghetti on Toast
I think this is truly the most horrible part of kiwi cuisine. My student flatmate taught me this recipe and I genuinely thought she was insane.
Sure the British do beans on toast, but thatโs at least two different food groups, right?
In New Zealand, they put spaghetti on toast. But itโs not just spaghetti, itโs spaghetti from a can.
Apparently itโs a child-friendly meal but also one loved by uni students.
I couldnโt wrap my head around cold spaghetti and red sauce put on bread and toasted. Where are the veggies? Whereโs the protein? How is this a meal??
Iโll admit, I never tried it and since Iโm now celiac, I never will. Iโm slightly grateful for that, so Iโll rely on yโall to give it a go for me.
New Zealand Drinks
Food isnโt the only unique thing in New Zealand. They also have a variety of unique drinks that youโll need to try.
I recommend this New Zealand campervan rental company
23. L&P Soda
L&P is the most famous beverage in New Zealand. Itโs like the local Coke – but they have Coke too.
L&P is a soda sold in a brown plastic bottle. You can get them basically everywhere. The names stands for lemon and paeroa (the two ingredients). I get the lemon as you can kind of taste it, but the paeroa is technically just a carbonated mineral water. Thereโs a lot more taste than just fizzy lemon water in this soda.
The flavour is kind of lemon-meets-cough-syrup-meets-sugar-with-a-hint-of-ginger-ale.
I wasnโt a fan.
Some people really love the stuff.
Maybe itโs because Iโm not big on soda? Or because the two times I tried it were on hot days where all I wanted was water?
Who knows!
Try the soda while youโre in New Zealand and see how you feel about it. Maybe youโll taste something completely different (and hopefully more pleasant) than I did.
24. Flat White
New Zealandโmuch like its neighbour, Australiaโis coffee obsessed.
Seriously, you should see how much my coworkers drank. Itโs a wonder they didnโt vibrate right through the floor!
The most common coffee ordered in New Zealand is a flat white. It is an espresso drink with micro-foam. Itโs similar to a latte, but much smaller and more concentrated.
Thereโs more coffee in this one because of it.
Apparently, coffee here really packs a punch, so a cup here might equal 2 or 3 in Canada. Be careful ordering or you might never sleep again.
25. Long Black
A long black is the second more popular type of coffee in New Zealand. If youโre a fan of Americanos, you should try this. Itโs a double-shot of espresso poured over hot water.
Kiwis drink smaller cups of coffee. Their largest size was equivalent to a medium at Tim Hortons or a grande at Starbucks. But it really packs a punch, so you donโt need much.
26. Wine
One of the things New Zealand is famous for is their wine.
Their Marlborough region produces amazing Sauvignon Blancs that are enjoyed around the world.
Be sure to plan to visit some wineries when youโre in New Zealand. Hit up Waiheke, Aucklandโs wine island, for a quick Auckland day trip. Or head out to Marlborough to tour the different vineyards producing these rich white wines.
If youโre not into Sav Blancs, donโt worry! Youโll be able to try sparkling wines, Chardonnays, pinot gris and noirs, and roses in all these wine regions.
The best spots for wine lovers are:
- Waiheke
- Hawkes Bay
- Marlborough
- Central Otago
This is my favourite tour of New Zealand!
New Zealand Candy & Treats
27. Marmite
Although New Zealand is close to Australia, they prefer the British marmite to vegemite. Marmite is a very salty spread made from the byproduct of brewing beer. It has a yeast flavour to it.
You eat it by spreading a thin amount on toast with some butter.
You can also find marmite flavoured crisps and other snacks around New Zealand.
28. Kiwi Dip
The name is so misleading, because it makes you think this will be a sweet snack, right?
Nope! Itโs a savoury dip.
Kiwi dip, actually kiwi onion dip, is made used a packet of powdered onion soup mix from Maggi combined with a can of reduced cream. Itโs refrigerated until it thickens.
Kiwi dip is great with veggies, cheese rolls, or even crisps!
29. Manuka Honey
Honeyโs not that special. You can get it anywhere. Right?
Wrong.
New Zealand honey is on a different level. The honey is made from the pollen of the manuka plant (the same one we get tea tree oil from). It lends a slight floral note to the honey.
Manuka honey is said to have antibacterial or alternative medicinal properties. While none of this is proven, that doesnโt stop pharmacies from selling jars of honey.
Because manuka honey is a delicacy, itโs more expensive than regular honey. Jars range in prices. The cheapest ones youโll find will be at the grocery store โ but they still wonโt compare with regular old honey.
30. Chocolate Fish
Chocolate fish are a strange obsession in New Zealand, and Iโm here for it! This snack is marshmallow covered in a thin layer of milk chocolate thatโs been shaped to look like a fish. Theyโre about the size of your finger.
I love them so much, but do be warned that they melt easily on a beach hike (I made that mistake!).
31. Peanut Slab
Peanut slabs are a must try New Zealand food! Theyโre a specific type of chocolate bar made by Whittakers (the best chocolate company in New Zealand. Seriously, try all of their flavours).
The slabs are small, but thick little rectangles of chocolate filled with roasted peanuts.
I love Whittakers chocolate because itโs not too sugary, so I can actually eat a piece without flying off the wall. Itโs also so smooth and creamy. Whether you eat the dark chocolate or the milk chocolate (white chocolate is for sociopaths. You cannot convince me otherwise), youโll never be unhappy.
I love the little peanut slabs because theyโre a perfect hiking treat. I had a few in my pack when I did the Tongariro Crossing and always kept some in my desk drawer at work.
32. Pineapple Lumps
New Zealand loves a marshmallow candy. Pineapple lumps are are squares of yellow marshmallow covered in a thin layer of chocolate. They do not taste like pineapple, although they claim to.
While theyโre super yummy, they bear no resemblance to a pineapple aside from their colour. So donโt be expecting any real fruit from this candy!
33. Griffins Biscuits
Griffins is a company that makes a bunch of different styles of biscuits. Youโll find ones covered in hundreds and thousands (check out my New Zealand slang post for a translation), jammy dodgers, sandwich cookies, and more.
But the best griffins biscuits far and away are the malt biscuits. Theyโre a slightly caramel colour biscuit that tastes like sweet milk and honey.
I highly recommend getting a few sleeves of them for your road trip through New Zealand. Theyโre the perfect snack food, although they do tend to create a lot of crumbs.
34. Jaffas
Jaffas are small orange candies. They have a candy coated shell around a center of chocolate.
Youโll find them sold in large packs across New Zealand.
Theyโre so famous that they actually race them down the steepest street in New Zealand every year. Yep, they unleash little bouncing balls of chocolate down Baldwin Street every single year! How amazing is that?
35. Assorted Lollies
Lollies are the Kiwi term for candy. They tend to refer to candies that donโt have chocolate.
In New Zealand, you need to try an assorted pack of lollies to get a full sample of their flavours. My favourites are minties. Theyโre slightly creamy with a mint flavour and super chewy.
Milkshakes are a local favourite that have a kind of condensed milk flavour to them. I found them too boring after one, but great when paired with a fruit flavoured lolly.
36. Tim Tams
A journey down under is never complete without Tim Tams!
These are traditionally chocolate biscuits around a chocolate icing filing. They are coated in a thin layer of chocolate.
Now, they sell Tim Tams in a variety of flavours, but the classic is still fully chocolate.
In New Zealand, you must try a Tim Tam Slam. This is when you bit off the short ends of the cookie to reveal the centre hole in the piped icing. You then use this as a straw to drink your tea or coffee.
37. Jelly Tip
An iconic Kiwi ice lolly is a Jelly Tip. It’s a vanilla ice cream bar topped with a pink jelly tip and then covered in chocolate.
It’s surprisingly refreshing, even though the jelly tip a very fake red-fruit (there’s no other way to describe it) flavour.
New Zealand Traditional Desserts
38. Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Iโve never heard the term โhokey pokeyโ used to refer to anything other than the dance before. Is that just me?? Because Brits and Kiwis looked at me like I was insane when I laughed at this label!
Hokey Pokey is British/Kiwi for honeycomb โ a thing we donโt generally put in our candy back in Canada seeing as itโs insanely sweet. They have no qualms about that in New Zealand!
While hokey pokey chocolate physically hurts my teeth, hokey pokey ice cream is well-balanced. I could definitely plow through a full container before I started getting the sugar twitches.
On a hot summer day in New Zealand, a hokey pokey ice cream is an amazing way to cool down.
If youโre in Auckland, head to Giapo for the best hokey pokey ice cream in New Zealand. Itโs vanilla with chunks of honeycomb inside. As a bonus, they coat the entire thing in a thin layer of dark chocolate!
39. Afghan Cookies
We wonโt get into the touchy subject of the name โafghan cookieโ in this New Zealand food guide, but I will say that they are worth trying.
Afghan cookies are a biscuit made of flour, butter, cornflakes, sugar and cocoa powder thatโs topped with chocolate icing a half of a walnut.
They are incredibly delicious, with a very satisfying crunch from the cornflakes when you eat them.
40. Anzac Cookies
Anzac cookies are extremely popular in New Zealand. Theyโre associated with the ANZAC troops from Australia and New Zealand. I believe they were a ration given out back then.
You make the biscuits by combining rolled oats, sugar, flour, butter, golden syrup/corn syrup, baking soda, boiling water, and dessicated coconut. Theyโre a lovely sweet flavour with a hint of health due to the coconut and oats.
41. Lolly Cake
A lolly cake or lolly log is made up of lollies. Theyโve been a staple in grocery stores since the 1960s. Theyโre a hit at any kids party now.
You make the cake by combining condensed milk, coconut, malt biscuits, butter, and fruit puffs (a type of lolly with multi-coloured, multi-flavoured bits).
Theyโre very chewy and highly sugar-y, but the bright colours always draw me in.
42. Goody Goody Gum Drops Ice Cream
When I moved to New Zealand, my first flattie went absolutely NUTS when I told her Iโd never had this ice cream. Apparently itโs a staple New Zealand food and it was a crime that Iโd never tried it.
Essentially, itโs a bubblegum flavoured ice cream with a blue-green tinge that is filled with little multi-coloured gum drops.
While Iโm not a big fan of bubblegum ice cream, I loved the cold gum drops. It was addictive to keep eating it. We went through a tub in a day!
Definitely enjoy in moderation!
43. Pavlova
Pavlova is the quintessential Kiwi dessert. Itโs basically the only food (besides kiwifruits) that I knew was a thing in New Zealand. My grandma even called me to tell me about the ballerina it was named after.
After all that, I was so excited to finally try one.
Turns out, I hate them.
Pavlova is incredibly sweet since it’s a hardened meringue. Basically, itโs a firm pile of sugar thatโs whipped to look pretty. Which, while delicious, is very difficult for someone with trouble processing sugar (like me!). I was bouncing off walls one second then falling over the next.
It still tasted amazing, but the sugar hangover I had for the next day was enough to keep me away from them.
If youโre going for a pavlova, be prepared for a sugar high or to not eat a 2-portioned one alone!
Also make sure to get it filled with fruit and cream. The cream sometimes helps cut the sugar. Youโll want a nice fresh mix of fruit, especially kiwifruit, for a classic pavlova.
Closing Thoughts on Kiwi Cuisine
Don’t forget to try the traditional New Zealand cuisine when you visit. Although it may not be known for its food, the way that Italy and Spain are, it has some truly lovely local delicacies.
Learning what Kiwis eat (it’s not just kiwifruit!) helps you learn more about them. You’ll uncover Maori roots and British ancestry through the dishes you devour. And you’ll discover the best chocolate I’ve ever had (including during my day trip to Zurich!).
If you visit, please send me a ton of peanut slabs!
Enjoy your adventures eating your way through the best food Oceania has to offer.
This is my favourite tour of New Zealand!
FAQs About New Zealand Food
What is a typical New Zealand breakfast?
Kiwis eat pretty standard fare for breakfast. Most enjoy Weetabix with milk (a type of cereal) or some toast with their morning coffee.
The coffee is definitely king of their morning routine.
On weekends, a Kiwi might make a classic English breakfast, consisting of eggs, bacon, cooked tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, baked beans, and toast. You can find this at most cafes for a lovely way to start your day.ย
What is traditional Kiwi food?
The traditional Kiwi foods you must try in New Zealand are:
Kiwifruit
Fish and Chips
Hangi
Lamb
Tuatua
Sauvignon Blanc
Flat White
Pavlova
What food is New Zealand famous for?ย
New Zealand is most famous for pavlova. Although theyโre more commonly associated with kiwifruit, which is found the world over, pavlova is a dish that was created locally. Youโll find it in restaurants throughout the country as a beautiful dessert. You can even try your hand at making your own.
On the savoury side, New Zealand is best known for their lamb. Everyone seems to know that there are more sheep than people in New Zealand. That means thereโs plenty of meat to go around. Try a roast lamb hangi for traditionally prepared cuisine.ย
What is New Zealandโs national dish?
The Kiwi meat pie is the national dish of New Zealand. Although itโs not as glamorous as a lamb shank or a pavlova, itโs the most popular food among the citizens.
You could take away any other dish without full on riots, but remove meat pies and that country would descend into the Purge.
I love meat pies because they exemplify the inclusion of New Zealand. They come in a variety of flavours for everyone to enjoy. They even come with mashed potato lids! Thereโs no necessary shape, size, or inclusion to make it a pie, other than that it is called one.ย
You can find them everywhere, but the classic spot is at a local dairy.ย
This is my favourite tour of New Zealand!
Related Posts:
- 101 New Zealand Fun Facts To Know Before You Go
- How to Move to New Zealand with a Working Holiday Visa
- New Zealand Slang: From Sweet As to Swear Words
- What is the Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand?
- 25 Pros and Cons of Living in New Zealand
- The Complete Guide to New Zealand: Tips and Tricks
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I actually use it as my primary bank now worldwide due to the multi-currency debit card. (Read more)
👯♀️ How do you make friends abroad?
Meetup.com – Meet likeminded people who share a similar hobby with Meetup! It’s free to join, but some activities may cost money, like if you go to a cafe and get a coffee.
🙀 I don’t speak the language. Can I still live abroad?
Learn languages in no time with iTalki! Moving abroad is an opportunity to learn the language. You don’t need to know it before you leave home.
💻 Do I need a VPN?
Yes! – VPNs allow you to access more of the internet. From US Netflix in the UK to social media sites banned in Asia. It’s a really helpful and cheap thing to ensure your online activities aren’t restricted.
🧳 What’s the best luggage for living abroad?
This is my favourite luggage set for long term travel. You can read more about my review of types of suitcases for travel here.
🏡 How do I tell my friends and family I want to live abroad?
Take this $7 course and learn the exact script I used to tell my family I was moving abroad … and then when I did it again. I even include tips for prepping your family, and for how to handle family who aren’t supportive.
✈️ Whatโs the best site to buy cheap flights?
To find cheap flights, I recommend Skyscanner. (Read more)
🏨 Whatโs the best site to find cheap hotels?
To find cheap hotels, I recommend Booking.com. (Read more)
Or stay for free with Trusted Housesitters!
🚗 Whatโs the best site to rent cars abroad?
To find cheap rental cars, I recommend Discover Cars.
🚗 Whatโs the best site to find tours?
To find epic tours, I recommend Viator.
