Local food map Auckland (New Zealand)
Auckland guides
Recipes 24
Pick a recipe
All Auckland recipes
🐟
Snack Fish & Seafood

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥160kcal
💪16gProtein
🌾10gCarbs
🥑7gFat
🌿—Fibre
⚖️150 gServing

* Per serving · 150 g. May vary.

Allergens

🦐 Shellfish

Kina

How to order / say it
Say it Kina — [KEE-nah]
Order I'd like the Kina, please.
Say locally

Spiky sea urchin with a creamy interior, eaten raw.

Why try it?

Kina, a favored delicacy among Māori, reflects the country's rich coastal resources. Eating it raw is a unique experience that showcases local maritime flavors and traditions.

How it tastes

Kina offers a briny, slightly sweet taste with a creamy, custard-like texture. It's often paired with bread or eaten straight from the shell for maximum freshness and oceanic umami.

Origin & History — first documented: 1500

Kina has been consumed by Māori for centuries, initially harvested by hand during low tides. It's a traditional food with myths and stories illustrating its cultural significance.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🦐 200 g kina roe
  • 🌾 4 slices bread
  • 🥛 50 g butter

Method

  1. 1 Crack open the shell to retrieve roe.
  2. 2 Serve roe raw with bread and butter.
  3. 3 Alternatively, enjoy directly from the shell.
  4. 4 Pair with a light sprinkle of lemon if desired.

More from North Island coasts

Whitebait Fritter
Snack Fish & Seafood

Whitebait Fritter

WYTE-bait FRIT-ter

A small delicate fritter made with tiny whitebait fish.
Hāngi
Main course Meat

Hāngi

HAA-ngee

A traditional Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven.
Anzac Biscuits © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Vegetarian

Anzac Biscuits

ANN-zak BIZ-kits

Sweet cookies made from oats, flour, butter, golden syrup, and coconut.
Lamb Shank
Main course Meat

Lamb Shank

LAM shangk

Braised lamb shank, slow-cooked until tender and flavorful.
🌿
Main course Vegetarian

Kānga Pirau

KAH-nga pee-RAH-oo

Traditional fermented corn porridge.
🐟
Main course Fish & Seafood

New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels

Kuku
koo-koo

Large mussels known for their distinctive green shells and rich flavor.
Roast Lamb
Main course Meat

Roast Lamb

roast-LAM

A classic lamb dish roasted with herbs, often served with seasonal vegetables.
🐟
Main course Fish & Seafood

Lake Wanaka Trout

lake wan-ah-ka trout

Trout roasted with local herbs and vegetables.
🌿
Snack Vegetarian

Kumara Chips

KOO-mah-rah chips

Crispy fried chips made from the native sweet potato, kumara.
🥩
Main course Meat

Wanaka Venison Stew

wan-ah-ka ven-ih-sin stew

A comforting stew made with venison and local herbs.
All Oceania recipes — New Zealand — Auckland — Kina
keyboard_arrow_up