Kai Tahi

Porirua is well-known as a proud harbour city, with its glistening waters an indelible part of its social and aesthetic identity. Kai Tahi, an ambitious food, retail, and community precinct, aims to celebrate these connections and take them to the next level.

Forged out of a former factory, Kai Tahi is unlike anything New Zealand’s youngest city has seen before. The ground floor market hall is spacious and busy without being overwhelming, guiding visitors through a range of eateries and retail outlets, with plenty of seating for the whole family. Step out into the foyer and marvel at not only the sprawling translucent roof that brings in plenty of natural light, but also the impressive ceiling-to-floor Michel Tuffery murals that lend the place a real sense of texture. Up the stairs is a handy mezzanine floor with even more seating, so you can people-watch from all sorts of angles, or simply head out the door to the foreshore and tuck into your takeaways on the water’s edge.

Its name means ‘eat together’, and Kai Tahi certainly invites plenty of that to happen within its many spaces. A microcosm of the cultural diversity of Porirua, the precinct houses eateries inspired from all corners of the globe, from the Indian meals at New Paradise to the Korean fried chicken at ChickenMan. You’ll find some iconic Wellington food brands too - Get Fixed Bicycle Cafe has set up shop here, as has the unmissable Zelati for all your dessert cravings. If you’re bringing a furry friend, they need not miss out, as 4 Paws Empire stocks plenty of treats and accessories for your dog.

Sitting on perhaps one of the best spots in Porirua, Kai Tahi links the heart of the city with the foreshore and the hills, with local institutions such as Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua Library, and Te Rauparaha Arena barely a short walk away. And crucially, it’s a perfect embodiment of the notion that food is often the best way to bring communities together.