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Mānawatia a Matariki

Mānawatia a Matariki

Posted by —
eatnewzealand

Published —
02.07.2021

We were celebrating the rise of Matariki this morning here on The Food Farm, in North Canterbury. After listening to Professor Rangi Matamua on Living By The Stars, we created our version of a Te Whāngai i ngā whetū or ‘feeding the stars’.

After the recent floods in Canterbury it’s still too wet to use an umu or ground oven so the wood oven sufficed. We prepared a pot of ingredients grown here; potatoes, chicken, carrots, tomato passata and herbs. We opened the pot letting the steam rise to the sky, said a karakia, ate some of the food to lift the tapu and then buried some in the ground. This beautiful, simple ceremony gave thanks for the year of food this farm has given us. See it all unfold on IG stories here.

As a family, we hope you also find a way to celebrate the rise of Matariki...


Tohunga Tūmau

Last night we were at Tohunga Tūmau, a dinner presented by some of our best Māori chefs, organised by Rewi Spraggon and Grant Kitchen (Chefs Association) at Shed 10 in Auckland. The evening fed close to a thousand people who included some of our highest profile tangata whenua, and honoured two chefs into a ‘hall of fame’. Peter Gordon and Joe McLeod were recognised for their extraordinary international contribution to the New Zealand, and particularly Māori food story. It also included a raft of Māori food and wine producers from across the motu (land).

Show me more Feast Matariki Events

Enter the #EatNZTaewaHunt

There's just under one week left to enter The Great Taewa Hunt - a photography and food storytelling competition that celebrates taewa at this significant time of year. It's a chance for all taewa-lovers to hunt down their best taewa story including keen photographers, eaters, growers, iwi, farmers markets and chefs.

The best taewa snaps and stories will be judged by Nadia Lim and the winner will receive a $500 cash prize, their image published on Stuff.co.nz and a copy of Nadia's beautiful Vegful cookbook. Accessing and finding these treasured taonga - Māori potatoes, isn't meant be easy - but it’s all part of the challenge!

Entries close next Thursday 8th July at 5pm and must include a high res image and 100 words. Spread the taewa love and ENTER NOW.

Keep an eye on our Eat New Zealand @eat.newzealand & Feast Matariki @feastmatariki socials for all the updates. This competition is supported by Potatoes New Zealand.

Whakapapa of Your Kai

Last Friday in Ōtautahi some of our Eat New Zealand Kaitaki Collective gathered together to attend the Whakapapa of Your Kai event held at Gatherings in Christchurch. Chefs Josh Hunter (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) along with Craig Martin, Mitch Teirney (Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa) and Finbar McCarthy. put on a stunning feast of kaimoana and kai from the whenua, including #taewa grown by another one of our Eat New Zealand Kaitaki - Phil of @pihifarms. Check out the menu over on our IG stories highlights here.

Drool over the menu from Whakapapa of Your Kai

Matariki & Her Daughters

The formidable Field & Green in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) are continuing with their Supper Club series to celebrate Matariki with a beautiful feast shared over two evenings next week.

Ka kitea a Matariki, kua maoka te hinu When Matariki is seen, the game is preserved The menu includes:

  • Confit alpine salmon, beetroot dust, watercress sauce, pikopiko
  • Chicken & spinach ballotine, black pudding, cider sauce
  • Venison leg, blueberry sauce, roasted baby vegetables in mānuka honey
  • Smoked kūmara tart, brown butter ice cream
There will be kōrero from two strong wahine including: Jannine Rickards (Ngā Puhi, Ngāi Te Rangi), a winemaker in Wairarapa, with range of wines called 'the Huntress', that represent the bringing together of lovers of fine wine, wild food, and Papatūānuku, our Mother Earth. As well as Johanna Knox (Ngāti Tukorehe, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Ranginui, Tangata Tiriti) - one of New Zealand's most knowledgeable and creative foragers. Her published books include: A Forager's Treasury (Allen & Unwin, 2013 and 2021) and Guardians of Aotearoa (Bateman Books, 2018).

Book a table via the Field & Green website here.

Get tickets to Matariki & Her Daughters @ Field & Green

Matariki at Sage Restaurant

Celebrate #FeastMatariki in Russell at Sage Restaurant at @paroabaywinery in Northland, a menu that aims to showcase Aotearoa's finest taonga kai (treasured food) from the whenua (land) to the moana (sea) to celebrate and uphold Te Tau Hau Māori - Matariki - The Māori New Year.

Chef Daniel Fraser will be presenting a special four course set menu available for lunch or dinner from July 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th & 11th. The menu is for two or more people to share, including local wine from their vineyard for $120 each (twin share only). Book your seat here.

The Mighty Mussel Gathering

A nationwide gathering of mussel recipes that encourages New Zealanders to celebrate and cook with mussels at home this Matariki and beyond. We will be sharing favourite recipes from some of New Zealand’s top chefs and food writers, as well as those from our community of keen mussel eaters. The idea is to inspire all kiwis to prepare and include mussels as an affordable and nutritious part of their Feast Matariki celebrations this year and beyond...

Get in touch if you have a special mussel recipe you'd like to share and we will start rolling them out over the coming weeks. #EatNZMussels #NZMussels

Share your Mighty Mussel Recipes with us...

Thank you to our Supporters

Thank you to our legendary supporters who choose to make a monthly contribution so we can continue to work towards a better, stronger and more resilient food landscape throughout Aotearoa. If you're interested in joining the whānau you can become a supporter here. And remember if you’re interested in partnering with us, don't hesistate to get in touch and we can send you more info... angela@eatnewzealand.nz
I'm ready to join the Eat New Zealand Supporters whānau!
Feast Matariki 2021 is made possible thanks to the support of Potatoes NZ, Aquaculture NZ and Anchor Professionals and Stuff.co.nz as our media partner who have chosen to lean in and help tell our Matariki stories.



As always we'd like to acknowledge the generous and ongoing support of our sponsors and partners including ANZ, the Restaurant Association and the Ministry for Primary Industries.





Here's some other food stories you might want to check out...

Taewa

My Matariki

NZer of the Year & National Food Security

Eat NZ Hui + Eat NZ Grains Overview
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