Sustainable Sea Urchin Retreat: A Taste of Aotearoa

A Taste of Aotearoa overview

AUCKLAND, 9 OCTOBER 2025 – Booking.com has teamed up with one of New Zealand’s culinary stars, Chef Kia Kanuta, to offer a once-in-a-lifetime bookable holiday home experience celebrating Aotearoa’s unique delicacy, kina (sea urchin).

Important details from the source

• AUCKLAND, 9 OCTOBER 2025 – Booking.com has teamed up with one of New Zealand’s culinary stars, Chef Kia Kanuta, to offer a once-in-a-lifetime bookable holiday home experience celebrating Aotearoa’s unique delicacy, kina (sea urchin).
• Located in picturesque Tutukākā in New Zealand’s Northland, the Booking.com Kina Cottage will offer one lucky pair of Genius members an unforgettable retreat that uncovers the distinct flavours of Aotearoa, while helping to look after the local marine environment.
• Northland is known for its pristine beaches, lush forests, rich Māori culture, and proximity to one of the world’s top dive sites - the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.
• It is also one of the regions most affected by ‘kina barren’, a growing ecological challenge in New Zealand and around the world in which excess kina population strips healthy kelp forests.
• The Booking.com Kina Cottage will first offer guests a unique experience with Dive Now, heading out on the pristine coastline by boat to sustainably hand-harvest kina.
• The catch of the day will then be served from ocean-to-table in a multi-course, private dining experience by Kia Kanuta, inviting guests to savour their harvest while uncovering the stories behind this global delicacy.
• Guests will then relax and enjoy the private clifftop cottage, with a vineyard and olive tree grove, sweeping ocean views, a deck made for enjoying kina fresh from the ocean, and its own mermaid pool complete with a resident octopus.
• The stay comes at a time when more people are seeking more sustainable travel experiences.
• Booking.com’s 2025 Travel and Sustainability report* highlights that two-thirds of Kiwis (67%) want to leave destinations better than they found them.
• Known for his passion for local ingredients, inventive seafood dishes, and bringing traditional Māori flavours to modern dining and global audiences, Chef Kia Kanuta said:

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Frequently asked questions

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Conclusion

A Taste of Aotearoa is useful as a comparison starting point. The safest approach is to shortlist the most relevant options, then verify current conditions and booking details before making a final choice.