Summer in Rotorua is a season of abundance and celebration, when food isn’t just eaten but experienced.
For Māori, kai (food) is deeply connected to whakapapa, whenua and the changing seasons. In summer, that connection feels especially alive: gardens flourish, harvests come in and people gather to share flavour, story and time together.
There are three places in Rotorua where you can taste that richness for yourself - each offering its own window into te ao Māori and the joy of summer.
Te Pā Tū – Summer Harvest Celebration
Summer is the season of hauhake - harvesting, gathering and celebrating the bounty of the land. At Te Pā Tū, their seasonal Summer Harvest experience brings this to life through flavour and storytelling.
Guests are welcomed onto the marae with warmth and ceremony before settling in for a multi-course feast that celebrates fresh, seasonal ingredients. Think hāngī-cooked vegetables, native herbs, charred meats and contemporary Māori dishes that honour tradition while pushing culinary boundaries.
The long summer daylight makes the dining experience even more special - karanga echoing across the pā as the sun sets, the aroma of smoked kai rising through warm evening air and the feeling of being part of something timeless. It’s not just dinner; it’s a celebration of the season, the land and the people who nurture it.
Te Puia – Follow the Tuku Iho Trail to the Flavours of the Whenua
At Te Puia, summer is a chance to explore geothermal landscapes and cultural wisdom in the same breath. The Tuku Iho Trail lets you wander past bubbling mud pools and steaming vents while learning how geothermal energy has shaped Māori life, innovation and kai for centuries.
Along the trail, you’ll discover traditional cooking methods like ngāwhā steaming - using natural heat from the earth to prepare food slowly and beautifully. It’s a reminder that Māori cuisine is not only delicious, but ingenious in its adaptation to the land.
If you’d like to taste this for yourself, Te Puia’s Te Pō evening experience offers a beautifully curated menu featuring hāngī, smoky meats, rewena bread and contemporary dishes infused with native flavours.
Summer evenings make Te Pō feel particularly magical - geothermal mist drifting into twilight, the sound of waiata in the night air and a feast that feels both ancient and new.
Whakarewarewa – Experience Earth-Cooked Kai in a Village Alive With History
There’s something incredibly grounding about tasting hāngī in the very place it has been cooked for generations. In Whakarewarewa – The Living Māori Village - whānau still prepare kai using natural geothermal vents, just as their tūpuna did.
Their hāngī plates - tender meats, smoky vegetables and earthy flavours infused with steam - are a must-try, especially in summer when the village feels bright and buzzing with life. And if you’re after something uniquely Rotorua, the hāngī pie is legendary: flaky pastry, rich filling and that unmistakable hāngī flavour wrapped up in a perfect hand-held treat.
Summer brings an extra layer of life to Whakarewarewa: steam rising in the heat, whānau sharing stories with visitors and the soft sound of kapa haka drifting across the village. It’s kai with heart - simple, soulful and unforgettable.
Whether you’re savouring a hāngī pie in Whakarewarewa, walking the Tuku Iho Trail at Te Puia or feasting under the stars at Te Pā Tū’s Summer Harvest, you’re experiencing more than a meal - you’re tasting the values of manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whanaungatanga (connection).
This is the flavour of summer in Rotorua: warm, generous, vibrant and deeply rooted in te ao Māori.
