A Game-Changer for Vegan Dining in NZ

Big news for vegan food lovers and for every eatery serving vegan kai!

The brand-new Vegan Aotearoa New Zealand Accredited Business Program has officially launched, and it’s set to raise the standard for vegan dining right across the country.

This accreditation is open to all kinds of food businesses – from cafés and restaurants to food trucks and caterers. You don’t have to be 100% vegan to join – as long as you offer genuine vegan options, you can get accredited.

For diners, this means more confidence and less guesswork. For businesses, it means showing customers that when you say “vegan,” you truly know what that means.

Why this matters

If you’re vegan – or even just exploring more plant-based meals – you’ve probably had that disappointing experience:

• Dairy cheese on vegan pizza

• Roti covered in butter

• Egg in a “vegan” pad Thai

• Fish sauce in your fried rice

  
  

It’s frustrating, and it makes you lose trust in places.

Most of the time, these slip-ups happen not because businesses don’t care – but because staff don’t fully understand what vegan really means.

That’s exactly where this new program comes in.

Real experiences from diners

We’ve heard so many stories from the vegan community about meals that turned out not to be vegan at all. Below are just some of the many examples:

These real-life experiences helps highlight why accreditation matters!

What it offers businesses

By completing a short online course, eateries in NZ can become officially vegan-accredited.

Businesses that sign up will receive:

✅ A certificate of accreditation

✅ A priority listing in the Fussy Vegan Pro app – NZ’s ultimate vegan dining guide

✅ Ongoing support

Why now?

More Kiwis than ever are choosing vegan options – whether for the animals, the planet, or their own health. They’re actively seeking out trustworthy places to eat.

This program creates a benchmark for vegan dining in Aotearoa, helping customers find businesses they can trust – and helping those businesses serve kai with confidence.

How you can help

If you’re a business owner or manager – visit the website to get started, or email me at tara@aguidetovegan.com to learn more.

If you’re a foodie – tell your favourite cafés, restaurants, and food trucks about the program. Your encouragement could be what gets them on board!