Air New Zealand menu with illustration of a kakapo

item details

NameAir New Zealand menu with illustration of a kakapo

ProductionAir New Zealand Ltd.; creating agency; 1973 - 1986
Pacific Art Collections; publisher; 1973 / 1986; New Zealand
Bruce Harvey; printer; 1973 / 1986; New Zealand

Classificationmenus

Materialspaper, ink, metal

DimensionsOverall: 241mm (width), 162mm (length), 2mm (depth)

Registration NumberGH024457

Credit lineGift of Bronwen Neil, 2015

Overview

Over the years, Air New Zealand menus have reflected the changing tastes of New Zealanders, as well as meeting the needs of travellers from all over the world. As new destinations were added, so to were new menu choices.

A menu on a DC-10 like this one might include dishes such as ‘Heung So Duck’ from China, ‘Pangang Goleck’ from Malasia, and ‘Roast Suckling Pig’ from Hawaii. Exotic delicacies like these increasingly sat alongside New Zealand favourites like ‘Canterbury Lamb’ and a selection of New Zealand wines and cheeses.

A strong sense of New Zealandness has always been a key part of the airline’s identity. The DC-10 menu above includes food and wine sourced from New Zealand, but even if it hadn’t, the native plants and animals on the front of this menu leave no doubt which part of the world the airline is from.