Food with a taste of te reo Maori

Pip Hakopa, owner-operator of te kai a te rangatira will be parked outside Te Hikoi museum in Riverton on June 23 offering coffee, kai and to korero with customers. Photo: Supplied

A bite of something different is headed to Riverton.

A food cart, te kai a te rangatira, will be parked outside Te Hikoi museum with the aim of normalising te reo Maori in the community.

As part of this, visitors would order their coffee and kai in te reo maori, and are able to learn while there.

Owner operator Pip Hakopa said she hoped to be ''strengthening and growing te reo Maori in the deep south.''

Te Hikoi operations manager Karyn Owen said Maori language was something Te Hikoi was keen to embrace.

''It is awesome that after learning about historical resource use in our area, visitors will get a chance to try some local kai in a way that offers a very unique experience.

''It is not very common for visitors to New Zealand to have an experience with te reo Maori, so we think this has potential to become a great attraction for the area'.

Venture Southland tourism and events manager Warrick Low said it would offer a new cultural activity for visitors to the region.

''We know visitors to New Zealand are looking for unique, authentic experiences and by learning how to order a drink or something to eat in te reo Maori they're able to engage with locals and learn more about our cultural make-up and heritage.''

Ms Hakopa said it would be the first use of the food cart since it was blessed by friends and family last month.