Northland’s food and beverage community gathers to celebrate at Savour Northland Awards Night
The region’s food and beverage industry came together in the Bay of Islands on Monday 10 November, to mark the culmination of the month-long Savour Northland celebration with the 2025 Awards Night - an evening of recognition, connection and celebration of local excellence.
The Awards Night programme began with a welcome drink at Charlotte’s Kitchen in Paihia, followed by a ferry crossing to Russell. Guests then enjoyed memorable visits to Hōne’s Garden and Rahimoana at Eagles Nest, before gathering for the formal awards presentation at The Duke of Marlborough. The evening provided a perfect platform for the industry to mix, mingle and celebrate success.
Across the event month, 54 events were held, and more than 2,200 challenge dishes were sold across 24 participating venues, illustrating the strong engagement of hospitality operators and the appetite from visitors and locals alike for Northland’s food and beverage and exclusive experiences.
The evening also featured Air New Zealand’s announcement of a three-year sponsorship commitment, delivered by MC Jason Dawson, reinforcing the airline’s long-term support for Northland’s food and beverage sector.
2025 Savour Northland Award Winners
- Best Marketing Award: Dancing Petrel
- Best New Event: Origin Northland
- Outstanding Event: Sage Restaurant at Paroa Bay
- Hero Ingredient (Haku Kingfish): Charlotte’s Kitchen
- Hero Ingredient (Kumara): The Duke of Marlborough
- Hero Ingredient (Subtropical fruits): Terra Restaurant
- Creative Culinary Award: Schnappa Rock
- Air New Zealand Chef Excellence: Marcus Berndt, Terra Restaurant
- Perfect Pairing, Highly Commended: Scenic Hotel, Bay of Islands
- Perfect Pairing, Ultimate Award Winner: Kai Mata Restaurant
Food and Beverage Ambassador Justine Stuart said the Awards Night reflected the ambition and collaboration on show across the region.
“Savour Northland brings our industry together not just to showcase great food, but to celebrate the people and partnerships that make Te Tai Tokerau’s food story so distinctive. Seeing award winners from right across the region shows the depth of talent, quality of dishes and creativity we have here. This was further reflected in the judges' comments, with many of the challenge dishes scoring over 80 points or higher. Tonight is a real celebration of the pride and innovation at every table.”
Northland Inc Chief Executive Paul Linton said events like Savour Northland play a vital role in attracting visitors and supporting the regional economy.
“Events are powerful hooks for visitors - they give people a reason to travel, explore and stay longer. When visitors taste what’s made here, they connect with our place in a way that lasts well beyond their stay. Savour Northland not only celebrates our local talent and delicious Northland produce, it delivers real economic benefit across hospitality, accommodation and tourism operators throughout Te Tai Tokerau.”
The Savour Northland initiative finds its roots in the region-wide Food & Beverage Action Plan, itself a key pillar of the Taitokerau Northland Destination Management Plan, setting a strategic direction for using food and beverage to drive visitation, regional dispersal and industry growth.
Savour Northland 2025 was supported by Northland Inc alongside venues, producers and stakeholders across the region.
Full List of Funders:
Major Funder:
- Northland Inc
Key Funders:
- Whangarei District Council
- NorthChamber with support from Tanspower
- The Community Boards of Kaikohe Hokianga, Bay of Islands and Te Hiku
Gold Sponsors:
- Northland Wine Growers Association
- Air New Zealand
- The Luxury Lodge Collective – Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, Eagles Nest, Paroa Bay, The Landing, and The Duke of Marlborough Hotel
- Hospitality New Zealand
- Haku Kingfish
- Oteihi Bay/Explore
Media Partners:
- NZME
- Cuisine Magazine
Further detail on the event is available at: https://savournorthland.com/