New Zealand is a bit like Canada. They both have big neighbours who tend to get a lot of attention. They’re both known for some of the nicest people on the planet. And neither has a strong culinary profile around the world.

The folks from Tourism New Zealand and a group called Eat New Zealand were in Toronto on Monday to meet with travel media and talk up food (and wine) traditions in Aotearoa, the Maori word for New Zealand (and one that means “land of the long, white cloud”).

“It’s difficult to say what New Zealand cuisine really is,” said Eat New Zealand chief executive Angela Clifford, a farmer and foodie from North Canterbury, a great food and wine region north of Christchurch on the South Island.

Clifford said her country’s food is a mixture of indigenous food practices, such as hangi, where food is placed in the ground to cook. Like they’ve done in Canada, immigrants also have added wonderful touches to New Zealand’s cuisine.

It helps that New Zealand is surrounded by bountiful ocean waters and has plenty of clean rivers and lakes, as well as great grazing land and a climate that allows grass to grow 365 days a year. Delicacies in New Zealand include local lamb, salmon, green-lipped mussels, tua tua clams and crayfish. Another great food item in New Zealand is manuka honey, which comes from manuka flowers and is extremely tasty. It’s also known for its medicinal qualities.

New Zealand also has more coffee roasting places per capita than any country on earth, Clifford said.

“Don’t mess with a Kiwi and his coffee,” she said with a laugh.

Mark Burt of the Tourism New Zealand office in California told TravelPulse Canada that Canada is very important for his country’s travel economy.

“We get about 40,000 Canadians a year, compared to 350,000 people from the U.S. But we love Canadians because they stay longer and explore more outside the major cities.”

Burt said he works closely with Goway Travel, the Flight Centre and other companies and that Tourism New Zealand has a team of three people dedicated to trade in their Santa Monica office.

They also put on regular education programs and have fam trips for agents.

Burt noted that Air Canada will begin flying direct from Vancouver to Auckland next month. Air Canada's flights to Auckland will operate four times weekly onboard the carrier's state-of-the-art flagship Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft beginning Dec. 12 and running until the end of March 2020.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit New Zealand twice. The diversity and natural beauty is stunning, and I’ve also had amazing meals on both the North and South Island.

Journalists yesterday were treated to several New Zealand wines, including a slightly fruity Pinot Gris, a smoky Pinot Noir and a gorgeous Chardonnay. The Marlborough region, located at the north end of the South Island, is famous around the world for its fruity, racy Sauvignon Blanc. The Central Otago region on the South Island makes incredible, juicy Pinot Noir, while the warmer climates on the North Island are great for a variety of whites and also deeply flavoured reds.