Hangi hints getting up Maori noses

A Government-financed guide on how to prepare and cook a hangi hygienically has Maori comparing it to a "how to suck eggs" guide.

The booklet, launched in Auckland yesterday, is a guide to buying, storing and preparing hangi food, pit preparation, heating the hangi stones, serving the food and what to do with leftovers.

It is a joint venture between the Auckland Regional Public Health Services and the Food Safety Authority and its publication followed reports that New Zealand had the highest rate of food poisoning in the developed world.

But Rotorua hangi tourist operators and marae cooks said the booklet was a waste of time and money.

Mike Tamaki, of Tamaki Tours, said next the Government would be bringing out a booklet on Five Easy Steps On How To Be A Maori. He doubted the booklet would be used, even though it had been developed in consultation with Maori elders.

"I don't care what elder approved it. How many out there who have been doing a hangi for years are going to read a guide book on how to do it put out by the Government? They're telling us how to suck eggs."

Ike Mitchell, Ohinemutu's Whakaturia dining room chef, said the booklet was insulting.

"It's ridiculous. Maori have been doing it for hundreds of years, even before refrigeration, and no one gets food poisoning."

- NZPA