Food & Dining

Food and Dining in New Zealand

New Zealand offers excellent food quality with fresh local produce, outstanding café culture, and diverse international cuisine. However, costs are higher than many countries, especially for groceries.

Restaurant and Dining Costs (2026)

Casual Dining:

• Fast food meal: NZD $10-20 (USD $6-12)
• Casual restaurant meal: NZD $25-40 per person
• Pizza takeaway: NZD $15-25
• Fish and chips (takeaway): NZD $12-18
• Asian takeaway: NZD $12-20

Mid-Range Dining:

• Three-course meal for two: NZD $150-200 (USD $85-115), excluding drinks
• Main course: NZD $25-35
• Appetizer: NZD $15-20
• Dessert: NZD $12-18

Fine Dining:

• Main courses: NZD $40-80 (USD $23-45)
• Tasting menu: NZD $100-200 per person
• Wine pairing: Additional NZD $60-120

Takeaway Options:

• Dinner for two: NZD $30-40
• Breakfast: NZD $30-60 depending on style and location
• Lunch: NZD $15-25

Comparison: Cost of eating out in NZ is similar to, or slightly higher than, what you'd pay in USA, Australia, and UK.

Café Culture

New Zealand (especially Wellington) has exceptional café culture:

Coffee:

• Regular coffee/tea: NZD $4-5
• Specialty coffee: NZD $5-7
• Coffee quality: Excellent (flat white originated in NZ/Australia)
• Wellington: Arguably best coffee in Southern Hemisphere

Café Food:

• Breakfast: NZD $18-28
• Brunch: NZD $20-32
• Lunch: NZD $15-25
• Cabinet food (baked goods): NZD $5-8

Café Culture Highlights:

• Third-wave coffee standard
• Local roasters common
• All-day breakfast menus
• Excellent brunch scene
• Laptop-friendly (many welcome remote workers)

Wellington Coffee Capital: Has more cafés per capita than New York City

Beverage Costs

Alcohol:

• Pint of beer at bar: NZD $8-12
• Glass of wine: NZD $10-15
• Cocktail: NZD $15-22
• Craft beer: NZD $10-14

Non-Alcoholic:

• Soft drink (restaurant): NZD $4-6
• Fresh juice: NZD $6-9
• Smoothie: NZD $8-12

Grocery Prices (2026 Data)

Recent Trends: According to Stats NZ (January 2026), grocery food prices increased 4.6% annually.

Basic Staples:

• Milk (2 liters): NZD $4.92 (up 15.8% annually)
• White bread (600g): NZD $2.20 (up 58.3% annually!)
• Eggs (dozen): NZD $8-10
• Butter (500g): NZD $6-8
• Cheese (1kg): NZD $12-15

Meat and Protein:

• Chicken breast (1kg): NZD $12-16
• Beef mince (1kg): NZD $15-20
• Porterhouse steak (1kg): NZD $35-45 (up 21.7% annually)
• Lamb chops: NZD $18-25/kg
• Fish (fresh): NZD $25-40/kg

Produce:

• Seasonal vegetables: NZD $3-8/kg
• Tomatoes: NZD $5-8/kg
• Avocados: NZD $3-5 each (seasonal variation)
• Apples: NZD $4-6/kg
• Bananas: NZD $3-4/kg

Pantry Staples:

• Olive oil (1L): NZD $17.45 (down 23.4% - good news!)
• Pasta (500g): NZD $2-4
• Rice (1kg): NZD $3-6
• Flour (1.5kg): NZD $3-5
• Coffee (250g): NZD $8-15

Imported Goods: 20-50% more expensive than local products

Supermarket Chains

Major Chains:

New World:

• Mid-to-upmarket
• Better selection, higher prices
• Good quality fresh produce
• Rewards program

Countdown (becoming FreshChoice):

• Mid-market
• Competitive pricing
• Wider range of international foods
• Good for budget-conscious

Pak'nSave:

• Budget-focused
• Lowest prices
• Warehouse-style
• Bring your own bags
• Best for saving money

Four Square:

• Small local shops
• Higher prices but convenient
• Limited selection

Specialty:

• Asian supermarkets (excellent value for Asian goods)
• Mediterranean/European delis
• Organic/health food stores

Food Quality

Local Produce:

• Excellent: Fresh, high-quality
• Grass-fed meat and dairy
• Seasonal fruits and vegetables superb
• Lamb and beef world-class

Seafood:

• Fresh fish excellent (snapper, salmon, blue cod)
• Green-lipped mussels (NZ specialty)
• Oysters (Bluff oysters famous)
• Crayfish/lobster (expensive but amazing)

Dairy:

• World-class milk, cheese, yogurt
• NZ is dairy nation
• Excellent quality, reasonable prices

Wine:

• Outstanding wine regions (Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc world-famous)
• Pinot Noir (Central Otago)
• Good value compared to imported wines
• NZD $15-25 for quality bottle

Cuisine Diversity

International Options (especially Auckland):

Asian:

• Excellent Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese
• Authentic and affordable
• Large Asian populations ensure quality
• Auckland has some of best Asian food outside Asia

European:

• Italian restaurants common
• French bistros in larger cities
• Spanish tapas
• Greek tavernas

Pacific:

• Samoan, Tongan, Fijian
• Umu/hangi (traditional earth oven feasts)
• Auckland has excellent Pacific Island food

Middle Eastern:

• Turkish, Lebanese restaurants
• Kebabs widely available
• Growing scene

Indian:

• Good Indian restaurants, especially in cities
• Range from budget to fine dining

Latin American:

• Growing Mexican, Peruvian, Brazilian options
• Still developing compared to other cuisines

New Zealand Specialties

Must-Try NZ Foods:

Savory:

• Meat pies: Quintessential Kiwi food, available everywhere (NZD $5-7)
• Fish and chips: Fresh fish, perfectly fried
• Lamb: Some of world's best, grass-fed
• Green-lipped mussels: NZ specialty
• Kumara: Sweet potato, used in many dishes
• Pavlova: Meringue dessert (claimed by NZ and Australia)

Sweets:

• Hokey pokey ice cream: Vanilla with honeycomb toffee bits
• Tim Tams: Chocolate biscuits (actually Australian but popular)
• Pineapple Lumps: Chocolate-covered pineapple candy
• L&P (Lemon & Paeroa): NZ soft drink
• Whittaker's Chocolate: NZ chocolate brand, excellent quality

Māori Cuisine:

• Hangi: Traditional earth oven feast (meat, kumara, vegetables)
• Rewena bread: Māori potato bread
• Boil-up: Pork, potato, kumara, dumplings
• Cultural experiences available at marae or cultural centers

Farmers Markets

Popular in NZ:

• Weekend farmers markets in most cities
• Fresh, local, often organic
• Direct from producers
• Prices comparable to or slightly higher than supermarkets
• Better quality

Major Markets:

• Auckland: Parnell, Matakana
• Wellington: Harbourside
• Christchurch: Riccarton House
• Check local councils for schedules

Night Markets (Auckland, Christchurch)

Asian-style night markets:

• Thursday-Saturday evenings
• Street food from multiple cuisines
• NZD $8-15 per dish
• Social atmosphere
• Great for trying diverse foods cheaply

Dietary Restrictions

Vegetarian/Vegan:

• Growing options in cities
• Most restaurants have vegetarian options
• Dedicated vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Auckland, Wellington
• Supermarkets stock plant-based alternatives
• Rural areas: More limited

Gluten-Free:

• Widely understood
• Most cafés/restaurants accommodate
• Gluten-free products in supermarkets
• NZ has high celiac awareness

Halal:

• Available in cities, especially Auckland
• Halal butchers in Muslim communities
• Many restaurants certified halal

Kosher:

• Limited options
• Auckland has small Jewish community with some providers

Food Budgeting

Weekly Grocery Budget:

Single Person:

• Budget: NZD $80-120/week
• Moderate: NZD $120-180/week
• Comfortable: NZD $180-250/week

Couple:

• Budget: NZD $150-220/week
• Moderate: NZD $220-320/week
• Comfortable: NZD $320-450/week

Family of 4:

• Budget: NZD $250-350/week
• Moderate: NZD $350-500/week
• Comfortable: NZD $500-700/week

Dining Out Budget (per month):

• Minimal: NZD $100-200
• Moderate: NZD $300-500
• Frequent: NZD $600-1,000+

Money-Saving Tips

1. Shop at Pak'nSave: Cheapest supermarket, significant savings

1. Buy seasonal produce: Much cheaper when in season

1. Cook from scratch: Pre-made meals expensive

1. Asian supermarkets: Better prices for Asian ingredients, rice, noodles

1. Farmers markets (end of day): Some vendors discount to clear stock

1. Meal planning: Reduce waste, stick to list

1. Loyalty programs: New World and Countdown have rewards

1. Avoid imported goods: Buy NZ-made when possible

1. Batch cooking: Saves time and money

1. BYO restaurants: Bring your own wine (many allow with small corkage)

Food Inflation Note

2026 Concern: White bread up 58.3% annually is alarming. Grocery inflation has been significant. Budget conservatively and monitor prices.

Good News: Some items (like olive oil) have decreased. Inflation may be moderating.

Strategy: Focus on unprocessed foods, seasonal produce, and local products for best value.