Finding Halal Food in New Zealand

Tuck into the local delicacies when you travel around the south island of New Zealand. The only dilemma is deciding on which native cuisine or ethnic food to have for dinner.

Kiwi Muslims may just made up 1% of the population in the southern country but fret not, the diverse food offerings gives a big edge for Muslim travellers to taste the culture and authenticity at its finest.

Food in this country is heavily dependant on locally-grown ingredients and through New Zealand’s history and roots, the south island colour the town with contemporary ethnic cuisines.

Once settled in New Zealand, people from various backgrounds brought forth cuisines from their cultures and introduced a spin to their comfort food–with no shortage of halal eateries at all.

Dux Dine

The freshest sea produce can be found among the favourite staples of groper, gurnard, tarikihi at Dux Dine. As you pick from the long inventive food list, this seafood restaurant also prides itself for harvesting vegetables from their organic garden for the vegetarian dishes.

That said, their menu is updated regularly based on the seasonal catch and ingredients availability so there might be something new on your each visit. 

Halal status: Not halal-certified as some dishes are prepared with alcohol. Recommended to consult before order and dine at your own discretion.

Dux Dine, 28 Riccarton Rd, Riccarton, Christchurch

KoTane Hāngi Dinner

Hang out and experience a traditional Māori dinner after the South Island’s only indigenous cultural performance at KoTane. Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand and “Hāngi” refers to the cooking method of Māori people using heated rocks in an underground pit oven.

One-of-a-kind Hāngi dinner is part of KoTane Māori Experience package and advance booking is required for halal meat options.

Halal status: Although the kitchen serves pork, halal meats are wrapped and cooked separately to prevent cross-contamination. Advised to dine at your own discretion.

KoTane, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, 60 Hussey Road, Christchurch

Dubba Dubba

There’s an idea for rabid lovers of rice in New Zealand. Christchurch’s to-go place for Moroccan food serves up fresh and flavourful Moroccan dishes.

The signature Morrito Bowl is served with an option of basmati steamed rice, couscous or brown rice for a change, completed with aioli, hummus and tzatziki on your choice of protein from grilled chicken, beef to Moroccan lamb. 

Halal status: Muslim-owned

Dubba Dubba, 11B, Waimairi Road, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch

High Country Salmon

Framed by the mountains and a lake, this fish farm makes a perfect road stop between Christchurch and Queenstown to taste and purchase some fresh and high-quality salmon. The viewing station on farm let you see and feed the salmon up close before hitting their cafe and restaurant for some seafood chowder, salmon burger and sashimi.

Halal status: Not halal certified but the food prepared here is mainly seafood and vegetarian except for pastries (which are made by various outside suppliers and not made in the kitchen)

High Country Salmon, 2602 Twizel-Omarama Rd, Twizel

**This article is made possible by Tourism New Zealand.

Text by Jessy Wong