Air New Zealand serving up the flavours of Aotearoa in new menu
A Taste of Aotearoa is the next evolution of Air New Zealand's popular Aotearoa on a Plate dining concept. Inspired by the rich heritage and diverse bounty of New Zealand, the new menu brings together indigenous flavours and contemporary cuisine.
The new menu is onboard Business Premier cabins now, and is available on all long haul flights out of New Zealand.
Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says the new onboard food and beverage offering was inspired by manaakitanga – the Māori tradition of hospitality – and is a true celebration of Aotearoa New Zealand's incredible culinary heritage.
"We believe it's our privilege to showcase the best our country has to offer and share that with the world – and one we take very seriously. Whether it's on a plate or in a glass, we want to serve up an authentic taste of New Zealand onboard and in our lounges."
Customers traveling in the airline's premium cabins will have the opportunity to indulge in an unparalleled exploration of New Zealand's exceptional flavours.
"Our country's unique flora and produce are a treasure trove of flavours and ingredients that have inspired us to create a dining experience that celebrates the special flavours of Aotearoa."
Some of the delicious A Taste of Aotearoa cuisine found on select premium menus departing from New Zealand include:
- Superfood Salad with horopito dusted New Zealand salmon
- Creamy kawakawa mushrooms on rye toast, sautéed spinach and grilled tomatoes
- Ahia™ smoked moki on kawakawa blini
- Grass fed New Zealand lamb rump with horopito rub
"There's something truly magical about the native flavours of New Zealand – from the peppery spiciness of horopito to the earthy goodness of kawakawa. By infusing our dishes with native ingredients, we pay homage to the traditional uses of these ingredients while creating a modern and memorable dining experience for our customers."
The menu showcases fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and serves as a chance to introduce visitors to New Zealand to the wonders of our local food producers.
"Working hand in hand with renowned local suppliers, the menu is bursting with New Zealand grown produce. Other menu items showcasing New Zealand include Ahia™ smoked moki sourced from the people of Ngāti Porou, Ōra King salmon from Marlborough, New Zealand hāpuka, smoked mussels from the Coromandel, cheeses from Oamaru and Hawke's Bay extra virgin olive oil."
Customers traveling in premium cabins will be able to experience "A Taste of Aotearoa" on select flights departing from New Zealand, such as New York and Chicago. The menu will be identified by a distinctive icon, ensuring passengers can easily identify the featured dishes and savour the unique flavours of Aotearoa during their journey.
Images of new "A Taste of Aotearoa" menu can be found here.
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Issued by Air New Zealand Communications.
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About Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand's story started in 1940, first taking to the skies between Auckland and Sydney on a flying boat - a Short S30. Known for its warm Kiwi hospitality, today, the airline has 104 operating aircraft ranging from Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and Airbus A320s to ATRs and Q300s, offering customers comfort in the latest most efficient jets and turboprops. It's a modern fuel-efficient fleet with an average age of 7.3 years. Air New Zealand's global network of passenger and cargo services centres around New Zealand. Pre-Covid, the airline flew more than 17 million passengers every year, with 3,400 flights per week. Air New Zealand was recently named the World's Safest Airline by the Australian rating service AirlineRatings.com, highlighting the airline's laser-focus on safety. Last year, Air New Zealand won Best Corporate Reputation in New Zealand – 8th year in a row.
Air New Zealand has a well-connected domestic business, connecting customers and cargo to 20 different regions around New Zealand. Internationally, the airline has direct flights to major cities across Australia, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the US, and through its strong relationships with alliance partners, offers customers more choice and convenience to connect further afield to hundreds of destinations. Air New Zealand has a particular focus on sustainability and its Sustainability Framework helps guide the airline's efforts in tackling some of New Zealand's and the world's most complex challenges. Air New Zealand aircraft are proudly identified by its distinct tail livery of the Mangōpare, the Māori symbol of the hammerhead shark which represents strength, tenacity, and resilience.
About Star Alliance
Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,321 airports in 193 countries.