# New Zealand typical foods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617 "2009-02-05T20:40:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/1 "2009-02-05T20:40:25Z")
My daughter’s Girl Scout troop is doing a presentation on New Zealand for their Thinking Day program in a few weeks. Usually, the troop does some sort of food (can be savory or sweet) that is traditional in the country, to share with all the other troops. When we did Mexico, we served Mexican cinnamon cookies for example. Another troop did the Netherlands and had small bits of Dutch licorice. We’re at a loss for something to serve that is traditional in NZ however. Any suggestions? It can be either something the girls have to make and bring, or something that might be found commercially here in the US (and not too hideously expensive per portion, as we have to bring a couple hundred portions). Suggestions? (note: I just followed a link from the treacle thread to a mention of Anzac biscuits… I suppose we could make some of those). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/2 "2009-02-05T20:46:08Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > (note: I just followed a link from the treacle thread to a mention of Anzac biscuits… I suppose we could make some of those). Another dish equally claimed by New Zealand and Australia is the [pavlova](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlova_(food)), which can (of course) be made with kiwifruit as one of the ingredients, ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/3 "2009-02-05T20:55:48Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Another dish equally claimed by New Zealand and Australia is the [pavlova](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlova_(food)), which can (of course) be made with kiwifruit as one of the ingredients, Aside: Is kiwifruit even remotely native to NZ? The troop leader was sort of planning on serving sliced kiwis, but I’m 99% sure they’re just named that for marketing purposes. I could be wrong of course. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/4 "2009-02-05T21:03:20Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Aside: Is kiwifruit even remotely native to NZ? The troop leader was sort of planning on serving sliced kiwis, but I’m 99% sure they’re just named that for marketing purposes. I could be wrong of course. It’s grown in New Zealand and exported to the rest of us, but the plant itself is native to China. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/5 "2009-02-05T21:10:49Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > The troop leader was sort of planning on serving sliced kiwis… . I think [Kiwis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwi), as endangered species, are not available to be served sliced, or otherwise. Kiwifruit used to be called Chinese gooseberries, and they were renamed for marketing purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/6 "2009-02-05T21:38:21Z")
A few iconic ones spring to mind: [Chocolate fish](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_fish) [L&P](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_&_Paeroa) [Toffee Pop bikkies](http://www.shopnewzealand.co.nz/en/cp/Biscuits_Toffee_Pops_200g) [Whitebait fritters](http://www.cookingdownunder.com/articles/2000/007.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/7 "2009-02-05T22:26:00Z")
Possums are a destructive introduced species in New Zealand. Here’s a recipe for [Possum Stew](http://www.recipezaar.com/Possum-Casserole-54111). In lieu of a New Zealand possum, I’m sure a North American opossum will do. Actually, possums are not regularly eaten in New Zealand, but they are made into [Possyum](http://superiorchunky.co.nz/possyum_pet_food.php) dog food. I am not a Kiwi, and I have no real knowledge of Kiwi cuisine, but I have had an awesome hamburger from a trailer in downtown Auckland. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/8 "2009-02-05T22:44:39Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > … Usually, the troop does some sort of food (can be savory or sweet) that is traditional in the country, to share with all the other troops… [Colonial Goose](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Goose)? ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/9 "2009-02-05T22:46:23Z")
Well, on my South Island trip years ago, I remember yogurt in cereal, [Hokey Pokey ice cream](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokey_pokey_(ice_cream)), and lots of nicely done lamb dinners… ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/10 "2009-02-05T22:48:46Z")
Melt down some strawberry marshmellows, shape them into little fish shapes and cover them in chocolate. The kiwifruit (actually started as a trademark for the Chinese gooseberry by NZ growers) can, as was said, be put on a pavlova which was invented in Perth (there’s a bit of argument - New Zealand has recipe books from earlier that list a dessert with a meringue that’s hard on the outside and soft on the inside, but the traditional pav - kiwifruit, strawberries and passionfruit pulp on a whipped, vanilla-cream layer on top of such a shell - was invented and named in Perth). If you can, order in some Lemon & Paeroa (or “L&P”) soft drink. Adults can mix it with Southern Comfort. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/11 "2009-02-06T10:21:56Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > I am not a Kiwi, and I have no real knowledge of Kiwi cuisine, but I have had an awesome hamburger from a trailer in downtown Auckland. My brother drove to Auckland from Wellington and back just to get a burger from a burger trailer just off Queen Street. You could always drop a _kunekune_ in a _hangi_ with some _kumera_, _puha_ and _kai moana_ (_pipis_, _toheroa_, _paua_, _kahawai_) and serve with _rewena paraoa_, _kina_ and _Kaanga wai_ on the side. That would be some mighty fine _kai_. kunekune: small pig (not native to NZ, arrived with the maori) hangi: earth oven kumera: sweet potato puha: sow thistle kai moana: food from the sea pipi: small bivalve mollusc toheroa: large bivalve mollusc paua: abalone kahawai: Australian salmon - large river spawning fish rewena paraoa: potato bread kina: roe of sea urchin kaanga wai: fermented corn kai: food The ANZAC biscuits or the Pavlova would be a good plan, but the _rewena paraoa_ may be a fun exercise for Girl Scouts - the potato is fermented to start the dough, and it tastes pretty good. Si ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/12 "2009-02-06T10:27:41Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > …a burger trailer… Pie Cart. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/13 "2009-02-06T10:31:08Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > My brother drove to Auckland from Wellington and back just to get a burger from a burger trailer just off Queen Street. Ah, the White Lady, mainstay of the hungry drunk for decades now. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/14 "2009-02-06T10:33:17Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Pie Cart. Quite right. :smack: Too long in the wrong hemisphere. I watched _Goodbye, Pork Pie_ just the other week, for a laugh. Apparently my daughters college friends just did not appreciate _Scarfies_ at all. Si ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/15 "2009-02-06T10:34:22Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Ah, the White Lady, mainstay of the hungry drunk for decades now. Thats the one. Si ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/16 "2009-02-06T11:24:03Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Apparently my daughters college friends just did not appreciate _Scarfies_ at all. D’oh! I worked on _Scarfies_! I was the storyboard artist. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-typical-foods/484617/17 "2009-02-06T12:09:21Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > D’oh! I worked on _Scarfies_! I was the storyboard artist. Great movie. My wife visited NZ a few months back, and picked up a bunch of Kiwi movies (Goodbye Pork Pie, Scarfies, Siones Wedding, 2nd Hand Wedding, Footrot Flats: A Dogs Tale). Heaps of fun. So thanks 😉 Si