AUCKLAND

The folks behind Major Sprout, Simon & Lee, Geeks on Sainsbury and Camper Coffee have opened all-day eatery THE CANDY SHOP in Newmarket, with an eclectic menu billed as “Kiwi food with a twist”.

Viaduct favourite SOUL BAR & BISTRO has been sold to the Nourish Group, which owns fellow waterfront eateries Euro, The Culpeper and The Crab Shack, among others.

HOT HOT is a new Asian eatery on Sandringham Rd owned by the ex head chef of Chinoiserie and Kiss Kiss, serving up noodle dishes, bánh mì and the like.

Gaetano Spinosa, ex Spacca and O’sarracino, is set to offer a “taste of Napoli” at MONZÙ in the Dominion Rd space formerly home to Merediths.

Three-hatted Auckland restaurant CLOONEY has a new head chef, Nobu Lee, who trained in Christchurch and most recently was head chef at Melbourne’s Vue de Monde.

WAIKATO

Hamilton ice cream legends (and Cuisine Artisan Awards winners) DUCK ISLAND have opened a new shop in the Riverbank Lane precinct.

BAY OF PLENTY

PALACE BURGER  is new to Mount Maunganui, serving up top-notch burgers, sides and cocktails in a fun Miami Vice-esque space.

HAWKE’S BAY

Baos and other Asian street food-style fare is on offer at FUNBUNS, new to Hastings.

WELLINGTON

As we went to press (no pun intended), PRESS HALL was set to open in a refurbished heritage building on Willis St, housing a number of eateries including pizza purveyor Tommy Millions, Vietnamese street food joint Nam D and steamed bun shop Bao Boy.

TASMAN

The restaurant at Mahana winery in Upper Moutere has been rebranded as FORSTERS.

CHRISTCHURCH

New food truck STRAYBURGER is bringing high-end burgers to various events around the city.

Craft beer bar MOON UNDER WATER is new to Beckenham, with an English pub-inspired vibe and 12 rotating taps.

OTAGO

FRANK’S EATERY is a new family-run cafe in Frankton, Queenstown, with a focus on free-range, local ingredients.

Set to open as we went to print, MOIETY is an intimate dining space in Dunedin’s revamped heritage warehouse precinct, offering a five-course menu as well as snacks to have with “a glass of something interesting”.