Join New Zealand's premier celebration of food innovation and excellence.

The NZ Food Awards Gala Dinner returns in 2025, promising an unforgettable evening that honours the pioneers and visionaries shaping the future of New Zealand’s food landscape. Whether you’re an exporter, retailer, supplier, or logistics partner, this is your prime opportunity of the year to connect, collaborate, and be inspired. Engage with food producers, retailers, researchers, and business leaders - this event is the ideal setting to forge new partnerships and ignite fresh ideas. 

Why Manawatū?

Manawatū stands proudly as the home of agrifood innovation in Aotearoa. As a leading distribution and logistics hub, it’s the perfect backdrop for a national event that celebrates progress, collaboration, and the future of the food sector.  

The city and region play a crucial role in growing, producing and innovating nationally and globally recognised food brands, which is why we’re home to more than 3,100 scientists and researchers – it really is in our DNA. Combined with the region’s rich natural resources and fertile lands, Manawatū is firmly positioned as Aotearoa’s epicentre for agritech and food innovation.   

Networking + Breakfast Tours 

Designed for industry leaders and innovators, these four curated tours are on offer as part of the NZ Food Awards programme and bring together NZ Food Awards finalists, suppliers, investors, and industry leaders from across Aotearoa’s food and beverage sector.  

Starting with coffee and a quick networking breakfast, tours depart at 10am and return at 12pm giving you a quick overview of some of Manawatū’s strategic priority areas while getting some valuable networking time in!  

• Agrifood Science and Research Tour – Dive into the latest advancements driving New Zealand’s food sector. 
• Whenua Haumanu Regenerative Agriculture Tour – Explore innovative approaches to sustainable farming and land stewardship. 
• Te Utanganui – the Central New Zealand Distribution Hub Tour – Explore the rapidly expanding intermodal hub working to get food to consumers, faster.  
• Fonterra R& D Centre – Uncover one of the world’s largest dairy research facilities. 

Reserve your place today at New Zealand’s most exciting food industry celebration. Connect with like-minded professionals and be part of an event that’s shaping the future of food.