The Michelin Guide is the pinnacle of fine dining but it has never made it to New Zealand due to its remote location. But who needs 1, 2 or 3 stars when you have a billion?

Tourism New Zealand set us a task to promote Aotearoa and encouraging off-peak visitation. We drew inspiration from two of our popular offerings of astro tourism and food.

Pou-o-Kai, the restaurant with the most stars was created. Nestled under the star-embellished skies of Kura Tawhiti – Castle Hill, right at the foot of the Southern Alps, Pou-o-Kai was created in partnership with renowned chef Ben Bayly, dishing up an authentic showcase of New Zealand's highest-quality ingredients, paired with a visual feast of the country's famous landscapes and constellations.

In developing a tohu that represents the name 'Pou-o-Kai' gifted by by Ngãi Tahu, we focussed on a number of considerations.

We explored the nature of the Pouākai, perhaps the world's largest-ever living eagle, significant to Te Waipounamu (New Zealand's South Island) and unique to Aotearoa.

We considered the environment and the distinctive space in and around Kura Tawhiti – Castle Hill, by day time and by night. We also drew other connections that speak to the significance of the event itself.

The design approach featured the following Te Ao Māori consideration:

Whakapapa: The physical nature of the Pouākai in flight informing a means of embrace. Its majestic wing-span operating in a circular motion, wrapping around its prey or 'kai'. This motion created a 'pou' or central point, representative of TNZ and the event encouraging a means of Whanaungatanga, as people came together.