CJ Collier brings Māori kai to Wellington streets, with hot hāngī now in Tawa Foodmarket.
When CJ Collier couldn’t find a hāngī to satisfy his craving, he fired up his own. Four years on, the Lower Hutt local’s garage start-up has turned into a booming business, bringing traditional Māori kai to outlets across the Wellington region—including several right here in Porirua.
Collier, who affiliates to Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, began by cooking hāngī at home to fill a cultural gap. “In every town you can get Indian food, Chinese food, Thai food—but not Māori food,” he told RNZ’s Nine to Noon. “That didn’t sit right with me.”
His fresh hāngī are now available in more than a dozen locations. Porirua stockists include:
- The Bay Supermart, Titahi Bay
- SuperValue, Cannons Creek
- Choice Convenience Store, Titahi Bay
- Tawa Foodmarket
Locals along the coast can also find hāngī from 11.30am daily at:
- Plimmerton Village Grocery
- Pukerua Bay Store
Originally operating with pop-up pick-up points and home deliveries, Collier’s operation shifted to stores using pie warmers to keep the kai fresh longer. “On a real busy week, we can do 1000 or up to 2000,” he said. “We average around 700 a week.”
But for Collier, the business is about more than numbers.
“Having hāngī reminds me of my whānau,” he said. “I think a lot of Māori feel the same way.”
By putting hāngī within reach—just a short drive from most Wellington homes—Collier is doing more than feeding appetites. He’s helping people reconnect with memories, culture, and whānau, one meal at a time.
To order now, visit: https://cjshangi.co.nz/
