Experience contemporary Māori kai at Tāmaki Festival

26 January 2016

Experience contemporary Māori kai at Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival

Contemporary Māori cuisine based on traditional methods and indigenous ingredients is the focus of a unique culinary experience on offer at the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival.

The inaugural festival, which celebrates the unique Māori heritage, history and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau takes place at The Cloud, Queens Wharf, on Auckland Anniversary Weekend from Saturday, 30 January – Monday, 1 February.

Festival goers can attend Te Kai Māori, showcasing the best of contemporary and traditional Māori food.

Leading Māori chefs Grant Kitchen, Tu Fearn, Nancye Pirini and Tim Aspinall are running sessions that will include a cooking demonstration using the best of indigenous and local ingredients, an overview of traditional foods, flavours and methods and the role indigenous ingredients can play in contemporary cuisine, culminating in a delicious meal.

Te Kai Māori Head Chef Grant Kitchen says people will have the chance to taste contemporary takes on traditional foods.

“I will be preparing a chicken supreme with potatoes baked in earth in the oven, to get that smoky hāngi flavour, with pikopiko or fern fronds, which is like wild asparagus and a horopito jus. Nancye is doing a new take on the traditional hāngi steamed pudding with a polenta sponge, and Tu will make pork, prawn and pūhā dumplings with dipping sauces.”

“You don’t see these indigenous flavours and ingredients like horopito, pikopiko, pūhā or kawakawa around very much, either in stores or New Zealand restaurants. It’s an area that we could develop much further and we could do much more to showcase these ingredients overseas.”

This celebration of Māori heritage and culture of Tāmaki Makaurau is being led by mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau, supported by Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED).

Festival Mana Whenua Steering Group Chair Hauauru Rawiri says featuring kai (food) is in keeping with the festival kaupapa of mana whenua welcoming all Aucklanders and visitors in to the Māori world of Tāmaki Makaurau.

“Sharing kai goes right to the heart of the Māori value of manaakitanga, welcoming, offering hospitality and looking after people.

“Kai also connects us with the earth and the sea, and reminds us of the process of growing and gathering the food, and preparing it. Something like Te Kai Māori preserves our traditions and reminds us of the importance of healthy eating and healthy living for Māori and all of us.”

ATEED General Manager Destination Vivien Bridgwater says like most of the other activities at the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival, Te Kai Māori is a blend of learning about an element of Māori culture and people having a chance to try it out themselves.

“The demonstration and information will give people an insight into both traditional and contemporary Māori food, as well as ideas they can try in their own cooking, capped off with the chance to eat delicious food from top Māori chefs.”

Te Kai Māori costs $10 per person per session, to be paid on entry to the Te Kai Māori court at the harbour end of Queens Wharf. The sessions come complete with harbour views and live musical accompaniment and the resulting meal.

The Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival includes workshops and talks on te reo Māori, crafts, games and healing, storytelling, an extensive programme of contemporary Māori music and art, waka racing and waka rides.

Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival is one of a host of exciting events happening on Auckland’s waterfront and harbour over Auckland Anniversary Weekend, including the ASB Auckland Seafood Festival; Ports of Auckland SeePort open weekend; St Jerome’s Laneway Festival; Silo Cinema and Silo Sessions; Auckland International Buskers Festival; Ports of Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta; HMNZS Wellington Open Day and Sunset Navy Concert; and the At The Beach - 100 Years of Summer Fashion exhibition, family activities and heritage vessels sailings in and around the NZ Maritime Museum.

What: Te Kai Māori
Where: Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival, The Cloud, Queens Wharf
When: Saturday 30 January - Monday 1 February 2016
Session times: Saturday – 10.30am, 1pm, 3.30pm; Sunday – 11am, 1pm, 3.30pm; Monday – 11am, 1pm, 3pm
Cost: $10 per person per session, pay upon entry

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