Summary
Christmas in New Zealand falls in summer, so the traditional roast has given way to lighter food, and the barbecue is now common – lamb and glazed ham are the best-known mains, alongside seafood, fresh salads and seasonal fruit; pavlova topped with strawberries, kiwifruit or passionfruit is the best-known dessert, and one survey reported that around 43% of New Zealanders had a barbecue lunch in 2019
New Zealand’s coastline shapes the Christmas table – prawns, green-lipped mussels, oysters, crayfish (rock lobster), whitebait fritters and smoked fish all appear on Kiwi menus, and some families serve a hāngī, a traditional Māori earth-oven feast
The Christmas table here is multicultural – families bring dishes from home, including the Filipino Noche Buena feast of lechon, hamon and queso de bola on Christmas Eve, and Indian Christmas favourites such as plum cake, Goan sweets and Kerala appam and stew
The classic Kiwi Christmas dinner
Christmas traditions in New Zealand share many roots with British, Irish and North American ones, but summer has reshaped them. A formal dinner indoors is still traditional for many families, while the barbecue lunch has grown more popular since the 2000s.
Mains
| Dish | What to know |
|---|---|
| Lamb | Roast lamb, or lamb chops and racks on the barbecue, is closely tied to New Zealand’s identity as a major lamb producer. An earlier Retail Meat New Zealand survey reported lamb and ham each served in roughly a third of households |
| Glazed ham | A common centrepiece, served warm or cold |
| Barbecue meats and prawns | Lamb, steak and king prawns are popular on the grill, and many families spend Christmas at the beach or in a park |
| Roast turkey or chicken | Still served in some homes, often as part of a more traditional meal |
| Hāngī | Some families serve a hāngī, a traditional Māori feast cooked in an earth oven, as part of their Christmas |
Seafood
New Zealand’s long coastline puts seafood on many Christmas menus. Popular choices include:
- Prawns, often barbecued
- Green-lipped mussels
- Oysters
- Crayfish (rock lobster)
- Whitebait fritters
- Smoked fish
Salads and sides
Fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and coleslaw suit the warm weather. Strawberries are in season and are a big part of the day for many families, whether used on a pavlova or served fresh with cream.
Desserts
| Dessert | What to know |
|---|---|
| Pavlova | A crisp meringue with a soft centre, topped with whipped cream and strawberries, kiwifruit, raspberries or passionfruit |
| Trifle | A layered dessert of sponge, custard, fruit and cream |
| Christmas cake and pudding | Traditional British Christmas desserts that are still served in many homes |
| Fruit mince pies | A traditional Christmas baked treat |
| Fresh fruit | Cherries, berries and kiwifruit are popular |
The pōhutukawa and a Kiwi summer Christmas
The pōhutukawa produces large crimson flowers in December, and it has become known as the New Zealand Christmas tree. Many families celebrate outdoors, at the beach, at a bach or in the garden. In te reo Māori, Merry Christmas is Meri Kirihimete.
The pavlova debate
Pavlova is a fixture of Kiwi Christmas tables, and New Zealand and Australia have long argued over which country invented it. The debate hasn’t been settled, and it remains a friendly rivalry across the Tasman. Whoever is right, it is hard to imagine a New Zealand summer Christmas without it.
Beyond the classics: Christmas tables from home
Many New Zealanders bring dishes from their own heritage to the Christmas table. Two examples reflect communities in OrbitRemit’s corridors.
Filipino Noche Buena
Filipino families celebrate Christmas with Noche Buena, a large feast shared late on Christmas Eve. There is no fixed menu, but the table commonly includes:
- Lechon, roasted pig, often the centrepiece
- Hamon, a sweet Christmas ham
- Queso de bola, a ball of Edam cheese in red wax, often served with the ham and bread
- Pancit, noodles served for long life
- Filipino-style spaghetti and macaroni salad
- Lumpia, embutido and morcon
- Bibingka and puto bumbong, rice cakes also eaten after Simbang Gabi
- Leche flan and fruit salad
Some Filipino families in New Zealand keep this tradition, adapting it with locally available ingredients.
Sending money home for Christmas
If you are sending money to family overseas for the festive season, public holidays in New Zealand and in the destination can add time to a transfer. OrbitRemit’s Help Centre gives settlement guidance in working days, counted after your payment reaches OrbitRemit. In 2026, Christmas Day is Friday 25 December, and Boxing Day, which falls on Saturday 26 December, is observed on Monday 28 December.
- Check the estimated delivery time in your account before you confirm. Delivery estimates are not guarantees.
- Complete identity verification early, and save your recipient’s details in advance.
- Compare the total your recipient would receive, not just the fee.
FAQs (frequently asked questions)
What do New Zealanders eat on Christmas
Commonly lamb or glazed ham, often cooked on the barbecue, with seafood, fresh salads and summer fruit. Pavlova is the best-known dessert, and trifle and mince pies are also common.
Is pavlova a New Zealand dessert?
New Zealand and Australia both claim it, and the question has not been settled. It is served at Christmas in both countries.
Why do Kiwis have a barbecue at Christmas?
Because Christmas falls in summer, and eating outdoors is more comfortable than a hot roast indoors. One survey reported that around 43% of New Zealanders had a barbecue lunch in 2019.
What is the New Zealand Christmas tree?
The pōhutukawa, which produces large crimson flowers in December.
How do you say Merry Christmas in Māori?
Meri Kirihimete.
Important information
This article is general information about food traditions. Traditions vary between families and regions, and survey figures are indicative. Transfer times vary by destination and payment method, and delivery estimates are not guarantees. OrbitRemit does not provide advice on exchange rate timing, and its exchange rate includes a margin, with the rate and destination amount shown before you confirm each transfer.
Related guides
- Christmas food in Australia
- How international money transfers work
- What does my OrbitRemit transfer status mean?
Last updated November 2026.
Sources: Wikipedia, Christmas in New Zealand, Christmas in Australia and Christmas dinner | NZ Herald, From pavlova to lamb and BBQ prawns, how NZ Christmas dinner tells the story of who we are as a nation | Wisemove NZ, How Christmas is celebrated in New Zealand (citing a Retail Meat New Zealand survey) | Klook, How to celebrate Christmas in New Zealand | Kiwi Christmas Things, Traditional New Zealand Christmas food | Asia Media Centre, Ten ways of celebrating Christmas in the Philippines | Asian Journal, Noche Buena: the Filipino Christmas table and its traditions | The Better India and The National, Indian Christmas food | OrbitRemit Help Centre, settlement guidance by destination
