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SkyCity’s The Grill will use an above ground hangi in its courtyard of its restaurant as part of a special, five course menu to celebrate the arrival of Matariki.
On Wednesday, June 18, The Grill at Horizon by SkyCity transforms into the heart of Auckland’s Matariki celebrations, with an unforgettable evening that blends storytelling, kai, and cultural immersion.
The event’s name, Te whāngai i ngā whetū, translates as ‘feeding the stars’, which is why hāngī is essential to the experience as it is the steam from the cook that is seen to give sustenance to the stars.
Chefs Patrick Ikinofo and Kia Kanuta have created the dinner, drawing their inspiration from the Matariki star cluster.
Each course is rooted in the whenua, gardens, rivers, forests, and oceans of Aotearoa, and honours the stars that Māori associate with the bounty of the natural world. The menu is a creative expression of the Matariki cluster, with each dish thoughtfully shaped by the stories carried by the stars, from the whenua to the moana, from the past to the promise of a new year.
At 7pm sharp, the hāngī will be lifted by celebrated chefs Patrick Ikinofo and Kia Kanuta, marking a powerful moment of connection to Te Ao Māori. This unique event pays homage to our tūpuna through the ancient practice of hāngī, elevated, refined, and delivered with aroha.
The evening’s menu is a carefully curated tribute to the nine stars of Matariki, each dish designed to feed a celestial guardian. Chefs Patrick and Kia have partnered with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, tangata whenua of central Tāmaki, ensuring deep cultural integrity and storytelling is woven into every bite.
“It’s tradition. It’s education. It’s generational knowledge on a plate,” says chef Patrick Ikinofo.
Expect kai gathered from the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Pourewa Maara Kai (garden), ethically and sustainably sourced kaimoana, and a celebration of indigenous producers. Every element speaks to kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, and the values that guide The Grill’s evolving kaupapa.
“This isn’t just a dinner,” says chef Kanuta. “It’s a chance to pause and remember those who came before us. To give thanks for what we have and to look forward together.”
