Puanga on a Plate: Celebrating culinary excellence

Published on 27 June 2024

Mayor Vince Cocurullo presents the trophy for supreme winner of the inaugural Puanga on a Plate competition to Aqua owners Craig Estick and Steve O’Shea.

From left: Mayor Vince Cocurullo presents the trophy for supreme winner of the inaugural Puanga on a Plate competition to Aqua owners Craig Estick and Steve O’Shea. The trophy was carved at the Hihiaua Cultural Centre.

We are excited to announce the winners of the inaugural Puanga on a Plate competition, our vibrant food festival that celebrated Puanga Matariki with a delicious twist.

The 2024 People’s Choice winner is AstroBoy and the 2024 Supreme winner is Aqua Restaurant and Bar.

Council launched the Puanga on a Plate event this year as part of the Puanga Matariki Festival. The 2024 theme, announced by Chief Advisor Mātauranga Matariki, Professor Rangi Mātāmua, was Matariki Heri Kai - The Feast of Matariki.

Running from 31 May to 30 June 2024, Puanga on a Plate had seven local restaurants taking diners on a culinary journey, showcasing their creativity by crafting dishes that resonated with the themes of home, family and identity. From traditional kai to contemporary fusion, each dish told a story and connected diners during the special time of reflection and celebration. The public was invited to cast their vote for their favourite dish.

Alongside the People's Choice, two esteemed judges had the exciting role of selecting the supreme winner of this year's competition.

Of the winning dish, judges Luke Bird and Marcia Hopa said: “Outstanding, from the moment we arrived to leaving, we were treated with so much manaakitanga. The use of the entire fish throughout the dish is impressive but also not taking away from the essence of who they are as a restaurant.

"We’d like to thank all seven amazing restaurants who took part in this inaugural Puanga on a Plate event for truly embracing the theme with their Puanga plates. Our hope is this will continue to be an annual Puanga Matariki culinary event with more restaurants joining in next year.”

The restaurants who took part in Puanga on a Plate 2024 were:

  • Aqua Restaurant and Bar
  • AstroBoy
  • Grand Thai Restaurant
  • Local Talent Taverna
  • Malthouse Fusion
  • The Butter Factory
  • The Quay. 
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