Metita

One of Aotearoa's most well-known chefs, Michael Meredith (Mr Morris) will be opening his new restaurant in The Grand by Skycity in October.

Inspired by his upbringing in Samoa and named after his late mother, Metita will open in the space formerly occupied by Italian restaurant Gusto at The Grand. The aim is to change local diners’ perceptions about Pacific food and showcase sustainably caught seafood.

It's always been a goal of his to open a restaurant that honoured his heritage so directly, Meredith told Broadsheet. His earliest food memories stem from Apia, where his mother had a pancake stall and he grew up cooking from a young age. "It's not the first time Polynesian food has been brought to the mainstream, but I know from growing up there that there are layers to it – and so many cultures that form the melting pot of the Pacific," he says. "It’ll be my version of how pacific cuisine should be and how it should be celebrated."

The fit-out is currently underway, with an interior design by Auckland and Brisbane-based firm CTRL Space that’s also inspired by the culture, cuisine and art of the Pacific.⁠ Traditional woven fishing baskets will be a central feature, hanging from the ceiling like chandeliers.

Metita is scheduled to open in October 2023 at 90 Federal Street, Auckland CBD.