Fire & Feast
Fire & Feast
Fire and Feast: Hosted in Maketū, one of Aotearoa’s most untouched and sacred coastal communities in the Bay of Plenty, this exclusive full-day experience invites guests to gather kai with their own hands. Guided by MasterChef-winning celebrity chefs Karena and Kasey Bird and former Māori All Blacks captain Deon Muir, you will prepare food using traditional Māori methods before dining around The Only Table to enjoy a kai hākari (feast) made from ingredients you’ve gathered, perfectly paired with vintage Toru Wines, the world’s first Māori-owned wine company, deepening the connection between place, plate and people.
Your MasterChefs
MasterChef winners Kasey and Karena Bird are award-winning chefs, bestselling cookbook authors and the driving force behind a modern renaissance of Aotearoa’s indigenous flavours.
On this expedition, you will be invited into the kitchen to master the art of hāngī in an intimate masterclass with our MasterChefs and ex-All Blacks captain Deon Muir, before savouring an Only Table feast.
The Location
Anchored in Maketū, a timeless fishing village on the Bay of Plenty, this expedition takes place at Deon Muir’s family homestead. Deon is a former captain of the Māori All Blacks and brings the same dedication and camaraderie to hospitality that defined his rugby career. Maketū is as authentically Kiwi as you’ll find, a living museum of New Zealand’s maritime heritage founded after the landing of one of the seven original waka around 1250 CE.
Today the village still pulses with stories of tūpuna and early pā life, and Deon’s home offers an intimate window into how Māori tradition and coastal lore converge—setting the stage for an unforgettable taste of Aotearoa’s past and present.
Expeditions Highlights
Here’s just a taster of the expedition highlights. For more information book a call with our culinary concierge or request our Private Expedition Guide 2025-2027
Native Foraging
Venture into the heart of native bush to harvest wild kawakawa, samphire and native ingredients. Then turn them into a feast.
Hāngī MasterClass
Unearth and ignite your own hāngī pit followed by the opportunity to master each step of this time-honoured Māori cooking tradition.
Kai Feast
Gather around The Only Table with your celebrity chefs and indulge in the kai (food) you have prepared and feast together as whānau (family).
Are you ready for a story no one else can tell?
Speak To Our Culinary Concierge
Considering an expedition with The Only Table?
Our culinary concierge is available to discuss availability, itinerary details, and personal preferences. Whether you’re planning from overseas or want to explore which table suits your taste, we’ll guide you through every step.
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