The monthly decline in food prices was led by a 6.5pc drop in vegetable prices and a 5.1pc reduction in fruit, according to Statistics NZ.

A downtown Auckland eatery has shut down after being put into receivership only several months after it first opened.

New Zealand's oldest tea company, Bell Tea, is set to shut its Dunedin factory next month, ending more than 100 years of tea production in the city.

Supermarket giant Countdown is facing fresh questions after large bins of whole snapper found at a waste meat processing plant were traced to its supply chain.

Meat lover Brendan Manning visits one of the country's best butcher to witness the process of breaking down the beast.

A stag night booze request has landed a Dunedin duty bar manager in trouble with police - and may even cost him his licence.

Kiwis are drinking more alcohol and eating more bread, red meat and takeaways than a year ago, data from Southern Cross shows.

Spanish star chef Ferran Adria has unveiled plans to open a "cooking laboratory", museum and database of top recipes at his world-beating restaurant elBulli.

Dutch style cheeses have taken out the top awards at this year's New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards.

After a couple of years of working all hours, seven days a week, Aaron Calman - known by his nickname Lizard - was barely seeing a dollar out of his business.

Next time you're ordering wine with a meal out, don't be afraid to order the cheapest - it's probably the best value.

A third of the food the world produces is never consumed, which means you're paying more at the till for your shopping.

ANew Zealand single malt has been named among the world's best by a top-selling international whisky guide.

Grant Achatz caused a flurry when he tweeted about a baby a couple had brought to his $250 a plate three-star establishment.

Local brewing giant Lion is serving up a new take on Claytons - "the drink you have when you're not having a drink".

The creation that was named as Burger of the Year by Time magazine will be sold in New Zealand from tomorrow, it's been confirmed.

Italy has turned its nose up at the latest craze in Spanish dining - a rapidly expanding restaurant group called La Mafia, or The Mafia.

A French restaurant critic has leaked details of next week's Michelin awards, accusing the guide of losing the plot. But ratings are worth the foodie fallouts, says John Walsh.

The popularity of hospitality classes in schools has surged thanks in part to high-rating television shows such as MasterChef.

Imposing a 20 per cent tax on Coke and other fizzy soft drinks could save 67 lives a year by reducing ill-health, a New Zealand study has found.

Bringing home the bacon has taken on a whole new meaning for Valentine's Day this year.

Since Key's return, the PM's department has reached out to various New Zealand businesses to ask them for their views, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

A new 'Starbucks' coffee shop has caused a stir in Los Angeles - the pop-up outlet, serving free coffee, is 'dumb'.