With a dish named Mōwaiwai, or ‘to make the mouth water’, Millennium Rotorua emerged champion at the inaugural Ngā Kai A Matariki competition, which means ‘The Foods of Matariki’. It aims to showcase traditional Māori cuisine in a contemporary way.

Mōwaiwai was created by Millennium Rotorua Chef de Partie Mr Jim Tawa, and features tuna mousse with saltwater kina, a sea urchin native to New Zealand and known for its buttery roe. The seafood is topped with kawakawa-infused rewena crumb. Kawakawa is a traditional Māori medicinal plant, and rewena is a traditional Māori sourdough potato bread. The dish was served in a paua shell.

Millennium Rotorua General Manager Ms Pipiana Whiston was very proud of her team, saying, “It was fantastic to get the community involved and receive the support from the local business community. We are looking forward to getting creative again next year.”

The inaugural competition was held in conjunction with Matariki, the Aotearoa Pacific New Year. It is celebrated with the rise of the star cluster Matariki, which the festival is named after. Fifty local judges voted for their favourite indigenous dish at a tasting at the Rotorua Farmers Market, together with a panel of VIP judges.