Wine and food

New Zealand has world-class wines, and a distinctive Pacific Rim cuisine that combines Asian and European influences, using the best local produce. High-quality wine and food are not just the preserve of the wealthy but are available to everyone. This is partly a reflection of New Zealand's lack of a formal class system, and the fact that the cost of eating out is low by international standards. Most New Zealanders eat out regularly and the restaurant trade has boomed in recent years. There are, for example, over 300 restaurants and cafes in central Wellington, which now has more restaurants per capita than any city in the world.