In New Zealand, the typical three meals a day of breakfast, lunch, and the main meal of dinner are eaten. It is common for breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner to be eaten not as family meals but instead prepared and eaten individually. Although breakfast meals consisting of British-style large breakfasts such as meat and potatoes used to be common, a new and more health conscious diet has since been adapted. British style breakfasts are now more commonly eaten during the weekends. New Zealand breakfast usually consists of cereal and toast with coffee (preferred over tea), tea, juice, or milk. Lunch is usually a simple meal such as a sandwich and dinner, the main meal, is usually meat and vegetables (especially potatoes) or fish and chips. Fish and chips are one of the many influences from England and are so widespread across New Zealand that they can be found anywhere. Another English influence, afternoon tea time, is also commonly observed by many still. New Zealand is known for producing some of the finest wines and has wineries widespread across the country.
When being invited over for a meal in New Zealand, it is common practice to bring a small and inexpensive gift such as food, alcohol, flowers, etc. It is also not disrespectful to refuse the offer of food or drink when in another’s home if not hungry, and likewise it is fine to leave food on your plate. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of food culture in New Zealand is the lack of seafood in New Zealand despite the abundance of fish and seafood in its surrounding waters. As stated before, the typical lunch and dinner of a kiwi consists of meat and not seafood, the exception to this being fish and chips. The Maori, in comparison, eat much more seafood as it has traditionally been a part of their diet since long ago. Much of the local varieties of seafood are named in the Maori language. Although many of the Maori have adapted the New Zealand diet in some way or another to their diet, they still retain much of the traditional meals. The majority of the meals unique to the Maori consist of a variety of the local herbs, fish, and fruit. Pork and potatoes, first introduced by the British settlers, are a popular staple diet of the Maori as well.
Sources
http://www.whitireia.ac.nz/international/Pages/SocialCustomsand.aspx
http://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/favourite-new-zealand-foods/
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-foods-kai-maori/page-4
http://www.newzealand.cl/food.htm
http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/tastes-of-nz/
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-foods-kai-maori
http://nzchinasociety.org.nz/new-to-new-zealand-advice-for-international-students-and-hosts/
When being invited over for a meal in New Zealand, it is common practice to bring a small and inexpensive gift such as food, alcohol, flowers, etc. It is also not disrespectful to refuse the offer of food or drink when in another’s home if not hungry, and likewise it is fine to leave food on your plate. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of food culture in New Zealand is the lack of seafood in New Zealand despite the abundance of fish and seafood in its surrounding waters. As stated before, the typical lunch and dinner of a kiwi consists of meat and not seafood, the exception to this being fish and chips. The Maori, in comparison, eat much more seafood as it has traditionally been a part of their diet since long ago. Much of the local varieties of seafood are named in the Maori language. Although many of the Maori have adapted the New Zealand diet in some way or another to their diet, they still retain much of the traditional meals. The majority of the meals unique to the Maori consist of a variety of the local herbs, fish, and fruit. Pork and potatoes, first introduced by the British settlers, are a popular staple diet of the Maori as well.
Sources
http://www.whitireia.ac.nz/international/Pages/SocialCustomsand.aspx
http://www.newzealand.com/us/feature/favourite-new-zealand-foods/
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-foods-kai-maori/page-4
http://www.newzealand.cl/food.htm
http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/blogs/post/tastes-of-nz/
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/maori-foods-kai-maori
http://nzchinasociety.org.nz/new-to-new-zealand-advice-for-international-students-and-hosts/