Educational Institutions serve up Earth Food
Education New Zealand: Media Release 05/05/11
Auckland’s Queen Street will come alive with a combination of New Zealand traditions and international flavours in the
Earth Food competition on Saturday, September 17, hosted by Education New Zealand.
Teams of international and Kiwi students will be putting an international spin on the traditional Maori “Hangi” feast.
The traditional Hangi is cooked in an earth oven over hot stones. Earth Food will feature a more modern approach
(because we couldn’t dig up Queen Street) and teams will start with the traditional Hangi meats and vegetables, and add
other national cuisine elements to create fusion foods with a great international flavour.
The world will be in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup, but New Zealand’s educational institutions host students from
around the world to the tune of almost 100,000 international students per year. That adds a real international flavour
to New Zealand life, and that’s what will be celebrated in the Earth Food Hangi Fusion Cook-Off.
The public will be the judges for the contest, sampling the fare from various teams and voting for the meals they like
best.
Visitors to Auckland will get to learn a bit about Maori culture and meet New Zealand students. New Zealand education is
known for its innovation and personal touch, and the cooking teams will be showing off their creative talents.
The competition will take place at the foot of Queen Street, which is the heart of central Auckland. A live New Zealand
band will entertain visitors who stop by.
New Zealand is a popular destination for international students looking for a high quality education in a safe and
welcoming environment. The relaxed Kiwi lifestyle and amazing landscape create a study experience that students treasure
throughout their lives.
Ends