Food and wine

New Zealand's 'Pacific Rim' cuisine style is inspired by Europe, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Polynesia, Japan, China and Vietnam. This unique blend of influences has created a mouthwatering range of flavours and food available from cafes and restaurants around the country.

For dishes that have a distinctly New Zealand style, look out for:

• meat - lamb, pork and venison
• seafood - salmon, crayfish, Bluff oysters, paua (abalone), mussels and scallops
• vegetables - kumara (sweet potato)
• fruit - kiwi fruit and tamarillo
• dessert - pavlova, our national dessert, made from meringue with fresh whipped cream and topped with fresh fruit or berries.

We tend towards relaxed cafe-bar dining rather than formal silver service. It fits with our more casual lifestyle. A wide variety of international cuisines is also available. Asian cuisine is particularly popular and there are currently more than 900 Asian restaurants throughout New Zealand.

Locally produced wines are of an international standard. Some varieties rank among the best in the world. A good selection of local and imported wines is available at most supermarkets, restaurants and cafes.