Te Papa Café’s Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka burger rose to first place over 200+ other burgers in competition and with over 21,000 ratings. After gathering the top 5 finalists out of consumer ratings, these burgers underwent assessment by a panel of independent judges.

The theme for the 2025 festival was ‘Food is Love’, and this burger was a collaborative creation from Te Papa’s culinary team and their iwi relationships team to capture the essence of a traditional Māori meal and give it a gourmet twist.

Inspired by the Māori food tradition of a boil-up, Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka means the comforting warmth you feel eating a pork boil-up, a dish of love, traditionally made in big pots for whānau and friends; it brings people together.

Head chef Hitesh Bhoir said he and his team were very happy with their win. “My complete team is really proud. Everyone is really happy with what we did.”

Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka is made up of traditional boil-up pork roulade, with Pagro lettuce and tomato, puha mousseline and horopito aioli in a toasted Brezelmania watercress milk bun. This is paired with hand-cut kumara fries, manuka honey aioli, and a shot of bone broth. For dessert: a vegan heart-shaped raspberry framboise dessert.

For taking out the first-place prize, Te Papa Café wins a custom brew with festival partner Double Vision Brewing and $700 stock, $500 Gilmours credit, and free entry into next year's competition!

Full List of Winners:

Burger Wellington 2025 - Overall Winners

• Te Papa Café: Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka — WINNER

• Macha, Jom Tapau!: Laksa Lover's Affair — SECOND PLACE

• Sushil’s Musclechef Kitchen and Café: Gran's Table — THIRD PLACE

Burger Wellington 2025 - Regional Winners

• Porirua: Sushil's Musclechef Kitchen and Café Gran’s Table

• Hutt City: Twenty Eight Kasundi Patty Melt

• Upper Hutt: Dirty Burger Upper Hutt Dip & Drip

• Kāpiti: Lustre Kitchen and Dining Primal Consciousness

• Wairarapa: The White Swan Country Hotel Sunday Best

Visa Wellington On a Plate Festival Awards

• Best Use of Theme (Event): Nyumbani: A Taste of Tanzania Le Ciel Bakery

• Best Use of Theme (Burger): Te Māmā Cable Top Eatery

• Most Innovative Event: Pizza My Heart Graze Wine Bar

• Most Innovative Burger: The Good Boy 4Paws Empire