Keen for wallaby pie? Have your say on NZ’s wildest dishes

Aotearoa’s boldest food competition is back, wilder and more daring than ever.

This May, the Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge returns after last year’s hugely successful revival, bringing together more than 60 restaurants, pubs and eateries nationwide to create daring dishes, featuring the country’s most adventurous ingredients, perfectly paired with Monteith’s brews.

From city favourites to small-town heroes, venues across the country have spent months experimenting with wild, foraged and unconventional ingredients to craft one-off creations that surprise diners and celebrate Kiwi creativity. The result is a nationwide showcase of culinary imagination, stretching from Riverton to Paihia.

Early entries are already raising the bar for 2026. Storyteller Eatery and Bar is turning heads with Tale of Two Tails, a rich, flavour packed pie loaded with pulled wallaby and rabbit, perfectly paired with Monteith’s Original.

Aparima Restaurant and Bar is equally bold, serving Foveaux Strait Blackfoot pāua arancini, crisp golden risotto spheres with tender wild caught pāua at the centre, matched with Monteith’s Ginger Beer for a sharp, refreshing finish.

The brief may sound simple, but it's demanding. Use wild ingredients, make it work, and deliver something truly unforgettable!

The 2026 Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge judging panel brings together three leading voices in wild ingredients and New Zealand cuisine.

Jeremy Wells

Jeremy Wells is one of New Zealand’s most prominent broadcasters and comedians, currently hosting Seven Sharp and the breakfast show on NZME's very own Radio Hauraki. Known for his quick wit and love of great food, he has judged beer and pie combinations through ‘Beer & Pie July’, co-owned a New York-style cocktail bar and taste-tested unusual Kiwi pairings on-air. His appreciation for Aotearoa’s flavours, sharp palate and sense of adventure make him a strong addition to the 2026 Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge judging panel.

Sam Wild

Sam is an award-winning spearfisherman turned underwater cameraman with a BSc in Marine Biology. Growing up close to the sea, he later studied in Wellington, supporting himself with freshly caught seafood. His deep understanding of New Zealand’s seafood and how it works in a dish makes him a natural fit for this year’s Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge judging panel.

Emily Lucas

Emily Lucas is the founder and ‘pie auteur’ behind West Coast Pie Co., a Westport-based bakery known for turning wild hunted meats into award-winning pies since 2020. Her focus on sustainably sourced wild game and real ingredients makes her a strong addition to this year’s judging panel.

Public voting is back, and it is your chance to shape the competition. Kiwis across the country will cast their votes to decide the top five dishes, before an expert judging panel steps in to crown the ultimate winner.

The Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge kicks off on 1 May, so start planning your must-try list now. Check out the participating venues and their dishes below, pick your favourites, and get ready to make your vote count.

How to participate

1. Visit https://wildfoodchallenge.monteiths.co.nz/
2. View the dishes available and visit participating outlets to discover your favourite
Wild Food Challenge dish and Monteith’s match