Hospitality Challenge

Eat. Taste. Vote.

Manawatū's Matariki Winter Festival's great Hospitality Challenge is over!

 

 

Congratulations to our three Hospitality Challenge winners!

• The Strong Room wins The Most Colourful Dessert proudly supported by Go Media Digital Advertising Billboard

• Wedge.eatery wins The Most Colourful Dish proudly supported by Thrive Media

• Wedge.eatery wins The Most Colourful Drink proudly supported by MediaWorks

14 local eateries entered and created 21 amazing recipes over three categories for the month-long festival.

The tastebuds and visual feasting has been an absolute treat this winter with amazing colourful dishes, drinks and desserts entered to find the PEOPLE’S CHOICE favourite...with hundreds and hundreds of people voting!

 

A massive thank you to all of our wonderful eateries that entered. You can still view all the entries below.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors for your support of the 2026 Feilding in Lights - Manawatū’s Matariki Winter Festival.

 

21 Colourful Dishes entered...

Beyond Coffee - Vietnamese Chicken Salad

 

Delish Cafe - Crispy chicken soft taco with a pineapple salsa.

 

Focal Point Cinema & Cafe - Crispy pork belly on a watercress puree and roasted horopito vegetables 

 

Mekong Restuarant - Sweet & Sour Pork Popcorn - Diced pork, lilghtly coated in batter and deep fried, sauted with homemade sweet and sour sauce, pineapple, served with stir-fried vegatables

 

Murray's Irish Bar - Mixed Caramalised Beet & Root vege Salad, Choggia & Gold beets caramalised and folded through roasted root vegetables on a bed of Roquette.

 

 

Paris Kebab Cafe - Iskander Plates - All plates served with either rice or chips (choose 1only) and your choice of meat or vegetarian, sald and three dips (beetroot, hummus, jacik). Serve with three sauces

 

Saleyard Cafe - Roast vegetable Salad 

 

wedge.eatery - Te Maunga Kai. The Mountain Feast - Built for cold nights and shared tables during Matariki, Te Maunga Kai is a celebration of abundance. Layered with smoky pork, rich cheeses, beans, maple bacon, and fresh pico de gallo, it represents coming together, sharing food, and gathering warmth through winter.

 

Colourful Drink

Beyond Coffee - Blue lagoon

 

 

Essance Cafe - Shades of Pink cocktail

 

Health For Life - Green Glow Juice - Ener-C Lemon Lime, you’re a zesty delight! Enjoy delicious lemon lime flavoured Ener-C to help support energy production, maintain body electrolyte balance and support immune function. Taste it for yourself. Tasting available all through Matariki celebrations.

 

Murray's Irish Bar - Feilding Traffic Light - A fruity, vodka based martini cocktail.

 

The Farmers Son - The Farmers Star - Crafted with premium New Zealand gin, inspired by the guiding stars and the hands that work beneath them. Made sweet, made fruity, made sour, the options are plentiful like the stars.

 

Beyond Coffee - Turkish delight cheesecake slice

 

Essance Cafe - Boysenberry cheesecake

 

Focal Point Cinema & Cafe - Sweet Kumara pie with Caramel sauce and whipped cream 

 

Sundae Bakery & Cafe - Midnight Star - A decadent chocolate tart with rich filling and fruit topping

 

The Strong Room - Lemon in Lights - Lemon tart with strawberry and tarragon

 

The Vintage Kitchen - Bright Sky Stars - Star shaped shortbread cookies. Brightly decorated like the night sky

 

wedge.eatery - Te Rā Huna. The Hidden Sun - Inspired by the quiet warmth of winter sunlight during Matariki, Te Rā Huna blends rich burnt basque cheesecake with bright lemon posset and fragrant rosemary syrup. The dark caramelised top represents long winter nights, while the citrus brings the promise of returning light and new beginnings.

 

 

Business Window LightUp Trail & Hospitality Challange Map. For more details on Business Window LightUp Trail go HERE