Maori legend says that food is a gift from the gods - Ranginui the Sky Father and Papatuanuku the Earth Mother.

From Tane come the game birds of the forest, from Tangaroa seafood, from Haumia wild plants and from Rongo, cultivated vegetables.

Traditional Maori methods of cooking include tunutunu (grilling) or kohua (boiling) but hangi is the most popular for large groups and is still used today.

A hangi is food steam-cooked in an underground oven. Traditional Maori food includes kumara (sweet potato); fish; shellfish; puha (like spinach); muttonbirds (salty meat that tastes like fish); chicken. Modern hangi include mutton, pork, pumpkin, potatoes and other vegetables.