Latest news with #VisaWellingtonOnaPlate
Scoop
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Nau Mai, Haere Mai - Everyone Welcome To Connect Over Boil-Up In Capital
A hearty winter boil-up will take centre stage in Wellington this week, as rising young Māori chefs and artists join forces with charity Everybody Eats to dish up nourishing kai and cultural connection at a one-night-only pop-up at LTD. Chef Josh Hunter (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) of Whakapapa of Your Kai will deliver the koha-based event alongside artist Ngaio Cowell (Ngaati te Ata te Waiohua, Waikato, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whātua), aiming to introduce the traditional boil-up to a new generation of fans. Josh and Mitchell Tierney (Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa) founded Whakapapa of Your Kai to honour Māori cuisine and create space for others to explore te ao Māori through kai. For Josh, boil up is more than a meal – it's a vessel of cultural heritage. 'Some of my earliest memories are of a pot bubbling away at home or having it on the marae – and fighting with my cousins over who got the most doughboys. I wouldn't think much of it back then, but now I crave it. 'It's a connection to our ancestors and our community. It's wholesome and reminds us who we are,' he says. The event is part of this year's Visa Wellington On a Plate programme. The menu will include a traditional pork stew with ham hock doughboys, followed by Black Doris plums with a charcoal-steeped custard, offering a taste similar to roasted marshmallows. Ngaio has worked with the chefs over several years to create events that reconnect Māori with the whakapapa of their kai in an accessible, no-frills way. 'With urbanisation, many of us have lost that link to the land and our food traditions. These events aim to reclaim that connection and provide a space for whānau to eat well. 'This is why we wanted to work with Everybody Eats; their kaupapa aligned with our values and beliefs for what these events should be - about doing the mahi to ensure everyone can be at the table,' she says. Founded in 2019, Everybody Eats has been a charity partner of Visa Wellington On a Plate for over five years. The innovative restaurant model offers three-course meals made from rescued food, featuring a pay-what-you-can model that aims to reduce food waste and address food insecurity across three restaurants in Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Food is Love is the theme of Visa Wellington On a Plate 2025, and Festival Director Beth Brash says events like this are at the heart of the country's biggest food festival. 'The connections we share over kai are some of the most important, and to have a space where everyone is welcome to the nourishment of a shared boil-up - there is no greater connector. 'Offering a meal that is so deeply tied to culture and community means we're not just feeding people; it's strengthening bonds and passing on a legacy of generosity and cultural pride,' says Josh. The Boil Up is being delivered in partnership with Everybody Eats at Ltd on 7 August from 6 to 8 pm. This event is koha-based; guests will pay what they can to ensure everyone can be at the table. You can find out more about the Visa WOAP 2025 programme highlights and ticket information here. About Visa Wellington a Plate Visa Wellington On a Plate is one of the southern hemisphere's most significant and boldest food festivals. From burgers and cocktails to chef collaborations and immersive experiences, it showcases the best of the Wellington region's producers, venues, and creative talent. Brought to you by the not-for-profit Wellington Culinary Events Trust, VWOAP is a festival dedicated to supporting and celebrating the capital's hospitality industry. Find out more here
Scoop
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Visa Wellington On A Plate 2025 Serves Up A Love Letter To The Capital
Press Release – Visa Wellington On A Plate This years Visa Wellington On a Plate (VWOAP) celebrates the theme Food is Love, a tribute to the joy of connecting over kai and the capitals vibrant, resilient hospitality scene. The 2025 programme serves up over 100 love-themed events … Visa Wellington On a Plate returns to the capital this August with more colour, creativity and flavour than ever before. From dining under the stars on Sky Stadium's pitch to joining the ultimate wedding party, or celebrating Kylie Minogue through food, the 2025 menu is swoon-worthy. This year's Visa Wellington On a Plate (VWOAP) celebrates the theme 'Food is Love' – a tribute to the joy of connecting over kai and the capital's vibrant, resilient hospitality scene. The 2025 programme serves up over 100 love-themed events and more than 200 burgers for the ever-popular Burger Wellington. Visa Wellington On a Plate Festival Director Beth Brash says VWOAP marks a fresh new chapter for New Zealand's foodie capital. 'We're so excited about the scale of events this year. Wellington on a Good Night will transform Sky Stadium into an immersive dining experience for 600 people across two nights with local produce cooked over fire by international chefs. The Library will host the most joyful wedding party you'll ever attend, and the Australian High Commission is celebrating Aussie icon Kylie Minogue through food and music. 'There's no doubt Wellington has been doing it tough. We want August to feel like one big love letter to the city and the incredible people who call it home – and there's an event or burger to suit every budget and every taste,' she says. Last year, Visa Wellington On a Plate generated more than $9 million in economic benefit for the capital, from ticketed events and accommodation to pop-ups, Burger Wellington, and more. Wellington Culinary Events Trust General Manager Penny de Borst says every bite counts, especially this year. 'Just attending one event has an impact beyond the festival itself. Last year, 80 per cent of attendees said they'd revisit venues or had discovered new places to dine. We want to encourage everyone to get involved, whether it's something big or small. And the best part? You get to enjoy what life's really about – fun, great food and drink and unforgettable experiences,' she says. Visa's Country Manager for New Zealand and Pacific Islands, Anthony Watson says their commitment to the festival has only grown stronger over their 16 years of partnership; he says while the festival is one of the country's most renowned culinary events, it's more than just a celebration of food. 'It's a powerful engine for economic growth and an important platform for allowing local businesses to thrive,' he says. 'We're proud to stand alongside the hospitality community and to continue championing the people and places that make Wellington such a vibrant food destination.' Miramar's Double Vision Brewing is Burger Wellington's new brewery partner. 'We're stoked to partner with Double Vision and perfectly pair their epic brews with this year's entries. Burger Wellington is one of the most popular events, and this year, venues have really embraced our theme; it's shaping up to be one of the most delicious years yet,' says de Borst. Now in its third year, and open to all New Zealanders, the Visa NZ Hospitality Scholarship also returns in 2025 with a $30,000 prize, designed to inspire the next generation of hospitality talent. Watson says this is a key investment for the future of the industry. 'Through initiatives like the Visa NZ Hospitality Scholarship, we're investing in the future of the industry by nurturing emerging talent and helping shape the next generation of culinary leaders.' Visa Wellington On a Plate 2025 kicks off with a bang on Friday 1 August, with epic experiences across the city. Tickets and programme info Festival programme live 11 June Visa Pre-sale: 23–25 June 2025 General on sale: 27 June 2025 Full programme: You can find out more about the VWOAP 2025 programme highlights here.
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Visa Wellington On A Plate 2025 Serves Up A Love Letter To The Capital
Visa Wellington On a Plate returns to the capital this August with more colour, creativity and flavour than ever before. From dining under the stars on Sky Stadium's pitch to joining the ultimate wedding party, or celebrating Kylie Minogue through food, the 2025 menu is swoon-worthy. This year's Visa Wellington On a Plate (VWOAP) celebrates the theme 'Food is Love' – a tribute to the joy of connecting over kai and the capital's vibrant, resilient hospitality scene. The 2025 programme serves up over 100 love-themed events and more than 200 burgers for the ever-popular Burger Wellington. Visa Wellington On a Plate Festival Director Beth Brash says VWOAP marks a fresh new chapter for New Zealand's foodie capital. 'We're so excited about the scale of events this year. Wellington on a Good Night will transform Sky Stadium into an immersive dining experience for 600 people across two nights with local produce cooked over fire by international chefs. The Library will host the most joyful wedding party you'll ever attend, and the Australian High Commission is celebrating Aussie icon Kylie Minogue through food and music. 'There's no doubt Wellington has been doing it tough. We want August to feel like one big love letter to the city and the incredible people who call it home – and there's an event or burger to suit every budget and every taste,' she says. Last year, Visa Wellington On a Plate generated more than $9 million in economic benefit for the capital, from ticketed events and accommodation to pop-ups, Burger Wellington, and more. Wellington Culinary Events Trust General Manager Penny de Borst says every bite counts, especially this year. 'Just attending one event has an impact beyond the festival itself. Last year, 80 per cent of attendees said they'd revisit venues or had discovered new places to dine. We want to encourage everyone to get involved, whether it's something big or small. And the best part? You get to enjoy what life's really about – fun, great food and drink and unforgettable experiences,' she says. Visa's Country Manager for New Zealand and Pacific Islands, Anthony Watson says their commitment to the festival has only grown stronger over their 16 years of partnership; he says while the festival is one of the country's most renowned culinary events, it's more than just a celebration of food. 'It's a powerful engine for economic growth and an important platform for allowing local businesses to thrive,' he says. 'We're proud to stand alongside the hospitality community and to continue championing the people and places that make Wellington such a vibrant food destination.' Miramar's Double Vision Brewing is Burger Wellington's new brewery partner. 'We're stoked to partner with Double Vision and perfectly pair their epic brews with this year's entries. Burger Wellington is one of the most popular events, and this year, venues have really embraced our theme; it's shaping up to be one of the most delicious years yet,' says de Borst. Now in its third year, and open to all New Zealanders, the Visa NZ Hospitality Scholarship also returns in 2025 with a $30,000 prize, designed to inspire the next generation of hospitality talent. Watson says this is a key investment for the future of the industry. 'Through initiatives like the Visa NZ Hospitality Scholarship, we're investing in the future of the industry by nurturing emerging talent and helping shape the next generation of culinary leaders.' Visa Wellington On a Plate 2025 kicks off with a bang on Friday 1 August, with epic experiences across the city. Tickets and programme info Festival programme live 11 June Visa Pre-sale: 23–25 June 2025 General on sale: 27 June 2025 Full programme: You can find out more about the VWOAP 2025 programme highlights here. About Visa Wellington a Plate Visa Wellington On a Plate is one of the southern hemisphere's most significant and boldest food festivals. From burgers and cocktails to chef collaborations and immersive experiences, it showcases the best of the Wellington region's producers, venues, and creative talent.
