Our Kitchen, Our Tikanga & Our Standards

DLISH PIES® Aotearoa

Traditional kai. Generational knowledge. Our tikanga. Our responsibility.

Our Story, Our Kai, Our Kaupapa

At DLISH PIES® Aotearoa, food has always been about more than simply feeding people.

It's about whakapapa, whānau, manaakitanga, and preserving the knowledge passed down through generations.

From our little kitchen in the Far North of Aotearoa, we produce kai inspired by the flavours, memories and traditions that have shaped our lives.

Our steamed pudding and custard pies are a reflection of that journey — taking something familiar from our whānau tables and creating something we can share with others.

Behind our products is more than 20 years of experience in commercial cooking, food production and distribution, alongside the knowledge and teachings of our tīpuna.

We are proud of where we come from, the experience we carry and the tikanga that guides us.

Our Kitchen Operates Under Tikanga Māori

Our approach to food production is grounded in tikanga Māori and the responsibilities that come with preparing kai for others.

For us, tikanga is not simply a tradition or a statement of cultural identity.

It is a way of thinking, working and taking responsibility.

Our guiding principles include:

Manaakitanga — Care and responsibility

Recognising our responsibility to the people who receive and consume our kai, including their wellbeing and the information they need to make informed choices.

Kaitiakitanga — Guardianship and respect

Respecting our ingredients, resources, environment and the processes involved in food production.

Pono — Honesty and accountability

Being truthful about our practices, maintaining accurate records, acknowledging concerns and taking responsibility when something requires attention.

Whakapapa — Connection and traceability

Understanding where our ingredients come from, how our products are prepared and where our finished kai is distributed.

Kotahitanga — Collective responsibility

Recognising that maintaining standards requires care, communication and accountability throughout the production process.

These principles form the foundation of our approach to producing kai.

Over 20 Years of Food Production Experience

Our journey in food production did not begin with DLISH PIES®.

Our experience includes commercial cooking, food manufacturing, supplying supermarkets, and distributing products throughout the North Island.

We have previously operated within council-registered and independently evaluated food-safety systems, including experience with MPI-related food production requirements.

That experience has provided us with valuable knowledge of food handling, production procedures, documentation and accountability.

While our previous registrations and approvals do not apply to our current kitchen, the knowledge gained through those years continues to inform our approach today.

We believe practical experience, cultural knowledge and documented procedures all have an important place in conversations about food production.

Our Own Documented Food Assurance System

We have developed an internal food assurance framework under:

Te Whare Tapu of Mareikura & Te Hira Noble

DLISH PIES Kai Tikanga & Food Assurance Master Workbook — Version 4.0

This working document brings together tikanga Māori values and practical food production responsibilities.

It contains procedures, assessment requirements and record templates covering:

Ingredient sourcing and supplier information.

Food preparation, personal hygiene and sanitation.

Cooking, cooling and temperature monitoring.

Refrigerated and frozen storage.

Allergen management and product labelling.

Batch records and ingredient traceability.

Packaging, transport and delivery.

Customer feedback, complaints and corrective actions.

Product withdrawal and recall procedures.

Internal checks, reviews and continuous improvement.

Our system is designed to support accountability and consistent practices.

As an internal working document, its procedures and records must be completed, implemented and reviewed. Product-specific safety controls also require appropriate supporting evidence and validation.

We do not present this workbook as an independent certification or government approval.

Transparency About Our Current Kitchen

We believe our customers have the right to know how their kai is produced.

Our current DLISH PIES® kitchen is not registered with the local council or MPI and has not undergone independent regulatory verification.

We use our own tikanga-led approach, experience and internal food assurance documentation to guide our production practices.

We also acknowledge that our internal systems and tikanga Māori do not, by themselves, replace registration, verification or other obligations that may apply under New Zealand food legislation.

We share this information openly because we believe informed customer choice matters.

We respect that every customer has their own expectations when purchasing food, and we understand that some may prefer to purchase only from registered and independently verified premises.

We respect those decisions.

Advocating for Change

Alongside operating our business, we believe there is an important wider conversation to be had about how food regulations affect small producers, rural communities, experienced food businesses and Māori enterprises.

We support exploring regulatory approaches that recognise tikanga Māori, practical experience, cultural food traditions and the realities faced by small-scale producers.

We believe there should be opportunities for meaningful discussion about accessible, proportionate and culturally responsive food regulation, without compromising the importance of food safety.

Our advocacy is about encouraging that conversation and seeking constructive change through the appropriate processes.

It is not a claim of exemption from existing legislation.

Our Responsibility to Our Customers

We understand that when someone purchases food, they are placing trust in the person who has prepared it.

That trust matters to us.

We aim to approach our work with care, maintain accurate records, review our practices, respond responsibly to concerns and continue developing our knowledge and procedures.

We welcome genuine questions about our products, ingredients and kitchen practices.

Our commitment is to communicate openly and take our responsibilities seriously.

From Our Whenua to Your Whānau

DLISH PIES® is built on much more than a recipe.

It is built on generations of knowledge, years of experience, whānau memories, resilience and a deep connection to our culture.

We are proud to share our journey openly — the traditions we honour, the standards we are developing, the challenges we face and the values we choose to uphold.

Because to us, kai has always been about connection.

Our whakapapa. Our tikanga. Our kai. Our responsibility.

With aroha,