AUCKLAND

Mike’s Famous Seafood Kitchen & Oyster Bar is the newest addition to the slew of Queen’s Rise eateries with their spanking fresh seafood and old-fashioned fish-and-chippery vibe.

Roll-your-own sushi comes to Botany Town Centre as Australian chain Sushi Sushi rolls into town.

Wholefoods store Refill Nations has opened in Te Atatu Peninsula – take along your own jars or bags and fill up with organic and non-organic staples from baking needs, to nuts and grains, to eco-cleaning products and pet foods.

Chill beach vibes with an industrial-chic edge – Long Bay Surf Club overlooks Long Bay regional park , so views to die for alongside your poke bowl, burger or seafood.

Delve into the back of Ponsonby Central to find The Hidden Village, bringing a welcome taste of Filipino dishes to the strip.

Churchills – on the 20th floor of Four Points by Sheraton Auckland – is set to be the city’s new rooftop gin bar, with all the glamour reminiscent of a Shanghai rooftop cocktail bar added to endless Auckland views.

Egg and Spoon has moved from St Kevin’s Arcade and rolled along to the sunny side of Ponsonby Road.

Shake Out burger bar is the latest addition to The Goodside at Smales Farm with great burgers, shakes and sundaes, and all packaging recyclable or compostable.

And another Goodside newcomer is Soho, a Thai restaurant from Jenny Hongthong and Poom Saengngam, the chefs behind Billy café. Starting the day with killer coffee, the place morphs into a bar by lunchtime – watch out for great Thai-inspired cocktails.

Rose-themed cocktails and Peruvian tapas top the list at The Tinted Rose, Ponsonby Road’s newest relaxed bar.

Even though it’s winter who doesn’t love an ice cream? Lulu’s – Auckland’s newest food truck – churns out soft-serve, coconut-milk based cones from the cutest little red trailer.

Pizza Presto now has a bricks-and-mortar place on Commerce St, with pizza by the slice from 7am to 10.30pm.

TAURANGA

Booming fast-casual Malaysian street-eats restaurant Hawker & Roll is expanding its horizons, joining the all-new Observatory dining lane in the Tauranga Crossing precinct.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI

Burger Burger is set to open its latest branch with bun-slinging goodness in the recently developed Bayfair Shopping Centre.

WELLINGTON

Enoki on Tory St focuses on traditional Japanese fare, along with some fusion-inspired dishes, but plans Japanese-style hotpot and a weekend seafood buffet soon.

The capital is not short of great cakes but welcome to Grace patisserie on Tory St, a new spot fusing French patisserie techniques with Asian flavours.

A “teafe” not a café Qilin Teahouse on Dixon St serves more than 60 types of tea including matcha, ice tea, tea latte, kombucha and cold-brew tea on tap.

CHRISTCHURCH

Keith Larson is welcomed as sommelier at Pescatore at The George. He comes with a background in wine buying, sales and distribution, and years of international hospitality experience.