Customary food activities
Food prepared and served on marae for customary activities such as tangi is outside the scope of the Food Act 2014, and will not be regulated because the food isn't sold or traded.
When you do have to comply with the Act
Food businesses that are operating from a marae, and selling food, will be regulated in the same way as other food businesses. The requirements will depend on the type of food business involved.
Why the Act was changed
The flexible risk-based approach taken by the Act offers an opportunity for marae and other community organisations to develop food manufacturing and food service practices that are consistent with their tikanga. This could offer business, tourism and employment opportunities in the food sector.For example, marae around Karapiro registered a food control plan (FCP) based on an MPI template ahead of the Rowing World Cup in 2012 to provide catering services. Other marae are establishing cafes, catering businesses and food manufacturing and horticulture businesses
Further Information
For further information, please download MPI's "Te Kai Manawa Ora: Marae Food Safety Guide" and "Food Safety practices in preparing and cooking a hāngi"