The Food & Drink Heroes of Tairāwhiti Gisborne

For the last couple of decades, Amy Campbell has helped prop up Gisborne’s food scene with a vibrant mix of cafes and restaurants providing locals a great place to eat and hang out. Amy’s latest venture, Crawford Road Kitchen, is a relaxing wharfside venue which is still home to Gisborne Wine Merchants with a fresh and delicious Mediterranean-inspired menu brought into the picture. With a large outdoor patio, there’s no better place to enjoy a local drop and a plate of bruschetta to share as the sun sets over the water.

Before taking over Crawford Road Kitchen in 2016, Amy owned The Wainui Store, a classic Kiwi dairy that has since been transformed into Zephyr, as well as Frank and Albie’s, which served simple but sophisticated sandwiches and salads. While the dairy and sandwich café are no longer open for business, Crawford Road Kitchen is luckily around to fill the gap. 

The Village Berry has been a Gisborne icon ever since Shelley picked up the keys to the business back in 2011. Those days, it was only open during summertime weekends as a simple real fruit ice cream shop – we’re sure locals would’ve been more than happy to have 24/7 access to but these were the hours that fit with Shelley’s schedule at the time. 

In 2020, Shelley was joined by her son-in-law Tom McCann who was returning home from London and Dubai before the pandemic saw New Zealand’s borders close. Bringing a basketful of sales experience, Tom teamed up with Shelley to engage local producers and growers to diversify the shop’s offering and expand the opening hours to 7 days a week. From the bags of fresh pears to the jars of kimchi and nut butters, the duo know the people and the story behind each product in store. As well as fresh produce and pantry staples, there are plenty of seasonal ready-to-eat options (including real fruit ice creams of course) made onsite and available every day, all year long.

After returning home from a trip to Mexico in 2009, Tracey and her partner soon realised there was a giant tortilla-sized hole missing back here in Aotearoa. The supermarket versions, made with masa harina corn flour, didn’t come close to the aroma, flavour and texture of those found on the streets of Central America. It was time to do something about it.

In between raising a young family, Tracey spent the next decade or so learning about the art of crafting authentic corn tortillas and finally brought La Tortilla Shop into the world. The tortillas are made completely from scratch using yellow corn grown under the East Coast sun in Tolaga Bay, before undergoing an ancient Aztec soaking process called “nixtamalization” which softens the kernels and releases all the goodness and flavour. The corn is then ground in a volcanic stone mill all the way from Mexico, rolled, lightly cooked and finally bundled up in home compostable packaging. The tortillas are available to purchase at the Gisborne Farmers’ Market, The Village Berry or Vetro Mediterranean Foods.

Meet the two sisters on a mission to inspire positive change and bring living foods back into our everyday lives. After hand-crafting their own range of superfood products (including the Kotahitanga protein blends), Amy and Erena opened Puku Ora Eatery at the end of 2020. The cafe offers health-conscious choices to cater for almost every dietary requirement, from vegan nachos and raw slices to keto burgers and paleo salads.

After making healthier changes to their own lifestyle, Amy and Erena wanted to create an accessible and judgement-free space for the community to take small daily steps towards building habits that prioritise their wellbeing. With the future generation front of mind, the Puku Ora kitchen also spends each morning preparing over 2,000 healthy lunches for local schools in the region. Absolute legends.

Flagship Eatery is one of the most popular cafes in Gisborne to escape to for coffee, breakfast, and lunch (with a glass or two of wine). Owner Tessa treated the space to a makeover in 2018, introducing a fresh colour palette, warm natural materials and soft furnishings. The cool and contemporary aesthetic grabs your attention, but we love how Tessa and her team match the style with just as much culinary substance.

At first glance, the menu may seem simple. Look a little closer and ‘house-made’ crops up all over the show. From the ciabatta and crumpets to the brioche and bagels, the baked goods come straight out of the Flagship oven. Jams, sauces, relishes, pickles and creams are all whipped up onsite, adding a unique touch to every plate. Fresh ingredients are sourced from growers down the road, and the drinks list features a range of local and ethical brands. 

Inspiration for the Gizzy Gold, a perfectly radiant lager that is still a national icon today, first struck two local lads back in the 80s while waiting for their next wave to ride. The beer became the first crafty creation of Sunshine Brewery, New Zealand’s oldest independent brewery established in 1989.

Fast forward a few decades, and the timeless Gizzy Gold has been joined by an extensive lineup of core classics and imaginative seasonal brews. While one could always reach into their fridge to crack a can of Sunshine Brewery, the best place to enjoy one of their golden brews is at the taproom on Awapuni Road. A couple of streets back from Waikanae beach, it’s a laid-back spot to taste a few different brews, share a pizza between mates and peek through the window to watch the big brewing operation happening next door.

For over 15 years, the Gisborne Farmers’ Market has been offering growers and artisans the opportunity to showcase their local goods and connect with the community. Every Saturday morning, the carpark on the corner of Stout and Fitzherbert Street is taken over by a flock of stallholders, with unique offerings that celebrate the region in their own way.

The best place to start is with a coffee (made with locally roasted beans of course) before beginning your market exploration. You’ll find crates filled with fresh seasonal fruit and veg, bouquets of flowers, boutique winemakers, jars of honey and relish, baked goods, and ready-to-eat dishes from a range of international cuisines that are sure to hit the spot. Gisborne Farmers’ Market is a special place to get to know the people behind your food, reduce your carbon footprint and enjoy produce that simply tastes 100x better.

Blessed with a green thumb and lifelong fascination for growing things, Eric was always destined to spend his days by the garden beds. Knock Knock Organics started out as an organic vegetable delivery company, but Eric soon realised he was spending more time on the road and less time in the soil. 

Nowadays, he’s switched things up, focusing on growing microgreens, salad mixes and herbs, as well as seasonal cherry tomatoes and cucumbers in the small scale market garden located in his backyard. The fresh greens last much longer than your standard leafy greens and can be found in the fridge at The Village Berry and PAK’nSAVE Gisborne, as well as on the plate at various restaurants and cafes around town. The business may have started as a side hustle but it’s proving to be quite the knockout.

As if we could end our story without mentioning one of the big players contributing to Gisborne’s wine reputation. Matawhero Wines is the oldest winery cellar door in the region, founded by wine pioneers Bill Irwin and his son Denis, who planted the vineyard’s first grapes in 1968. Today, Matawhero’s story is carried on Kirsten and Richard Searle who became the new trusted Kaitiaki (guardians) in 2008. They continue to stay true to the history and vision of the winery, while enriching the offering and creating new experiences for visitors. 

Matawhero’s vineyards are 100% naturally dry farmed, which means they grow their grapes with natural rainfall and no irrigation. Not only is this saving a precious resource, but this approach results in distinct wines with more intense flavours. The bold and vibrant single-vineyard wines are best enjoyed as a tasting flight alongside gourmet platters (and perhaps a game of petanque) at Matawhero’s romantic and rustic cellar door. Kirsten and Richard have also introduced luxury cabin accommodation, a one-of-a-kind opportunity for guests to sleep amongst the vines.