Independent review of Kiwi Kitchens NZ dog food — freeze-dried and canned with local ingredients tested. Does it outperform the bigger premium brands?
Last updated
By Jess Aldridge 
Kiwi Kitchens makes genuinely good dog food — quality NZ ingredients, no filler, and sensible recipes that hold their own against the bigger premium brands. The problem isn’t the food; it’s finding the stuff.
Limited availability means you can’t reliably track it down in most pet stores. Recipe variety is narrow compared to ZIWI Peak or K9 Natural. And at $8-14 per day for a medium dog, you’re paying premium prices for a brand with boutique distribution.
If you can source it consistently and your dog does well on their recipes, it’s absolutely worth a look. But most NZ dog owners will have an easier time with ZIWI Peak for ultra-premium or Black Hawk for reliable mid-range quality. For a head-to-head between the two NZ premium leaders, check out my ZIWI Peak vs K9 Natural comparison.
Kiwi Kitchens is a smaller NZ pet food company that set out to create premium, locally-sourced dog food without the mass-market approach of the bigger brands. They focus on freeze-dried and wet food options using traceable NZ ingredients.
Key facts:
The brand positions itself as artisanal — smaller batches, more attention to sourcing, direct relationships with farmers. The ingredient lists are clean and simple, similar to what you’d see from K9 Natural or ZIWI Peak, just with a smaller operation behind them.
Unlike ZIWI or K9, Kiwi Kitchens doesn’t have a big export business or widespread retail distribution. That keeps them agile but also makes it harder for most of us to actually get our hands on.
The freeze-dried range is their flagship:
Available recipes:
Format: 500g and 1kg pouches. Add warm water before serving (same process as K9 Natural).
Pricing: $45-65 per 500g pouch (varies by recipe and retailer).
Their wet food line is ready to serve:
Available recipes:
Format: 400g cans.
Pricing: $8-12 per can (depending on recipe and where you buy).
Clean ingredient lists: Like the other NZ premium brands, Kiwi Kitchens keeps things straightforward. Their grass-fed beef recipe contains beef, beef heart, beef liver, sweet potato, carrots, peas, and a vitamin/mineral premix. That’s it.
Traceable sourcing: They specify grass-fed, free-range, and wild-caught where relevant, and emphasise NZ sourcing. This isn’t just marketing fluff — you can genuinely tell the difference in protein quality.
No filler ingredients: No corn, wheat, soy, or meat meals. No artificial preservatives or flavours. What you see is what your dog gets.
Appropriate fat content: Their recipes run 12-16% fat, which is suitable for most adult dogs without being excessive. Māui does well in that range — it’s enough for energy without upsetting his stomach.
Limited recipe variety: Four freeze-dried recipes and three wet food options is pretty narrow compared to ZIWI Peak’s 10+ options or even mid-range brands like Black Hawk.
No grain-inclusive options: Everything is grain-free, which is fine for most dogs but limits your choices if your dog actually does well on rice or oats.
No breed-specific formulations: Unlike Royal Canin or some ranges from larger brands, there are no puppy, senior, or breed-specific variants.
Minimal novel proteins: No venison, duck, or other alternative proteins for dogs with common allergies. If your dog needs something different, check my dog food for allergies guide and sensitive stomach options.
These numbers stack up well against other premium freeze-dried brands. Protein content is excellent, fat is moderate, and the low moisture content is typical for freeze-dried products.
Caloric density: Approximately 4,200 kcal/kg (after rehydration), so it’s energy-dense enough that you feed smaller portions than kibble.
For a 20kg (medium) dog:
Māui was into it straight away — the rehydrated freeze-dried food has a rich aroma and meat-forward taste that most dogs go for. The texture after rehydration is similar to wet food but with better ingredient integrity.
The freeze-dried range needs rehydrating, which takes 2-3 minutes of prep time per meal. Not as grab-and-go as kibble, but far simpler than handling raw food. The canned options are just scoop-and-serve.
Clean ingredients and minimal processing generally mean good digestibility. I didn’t notice any digestive issues during testing, though the high protein content might be a bit rich for dogs transitioning from budget kibble. Adding probiotics during any food transition can help smooth things out.
At $8-14 per day for a medium dog, Kiwi Kitchens sits in the premium category but below ultra-premium brands like ZIWI Peak ($12-20/day). You’re paying for ingredient quality and local sourcing, but the availability issues can make it impractical as a primary food. For a budget comparison, my cheapest dog food guide covers quality options under $3/day.
Quality: Comparable ingredient quality and nutritional profiles Price: Kiwi Kitchens is more affordable (20-30% less) Availability: ZIWI Peak is widely available; Kiwi Kitchens is hit-or-miss Variety: ZIWI offers much more recipe variety and different protein sources
Quality: Similar high-quality NZ sourcing and freeze-dried processing Price: Roughly comparable pricing for freeze-dried options Availability: K9 Natural has better retail distribution Format: Both offer freeze-dried and some wet options
Quality: Kiwi Kitchens has cleaner ingredients and better sourcing Price: Black Hawk is significantly more affordable ($3-5/day vs $8-14/day) Availability: Black Hawk is available everywhere; Kiwi Kitchens is boutique Practicality: Black Hawk wins on convenience and accessibility (see my Black Hawk vs Ivory Coat comparison for more on Australian brands)
Kiwi Kitchens makes excellent dog food that genuinely competes with ZIWI Peak and K9 Natural on ingredient quality. The sticking point is distribution — it’s hard to find consistently, and the limited recipe range means fewer options for dogs with specific needs.
If you can source it reliably and your dog does well on their recipes, it’s worth the premium. But for most NZ dog owners, you’ll have better luck with ZIWI Peak for ultra-premium feeding or Black Hawk for dependable mid-range quality.
PawPick rating: 8/10 — Great food let down by availability.
Looking for more NZ dog food options? Check out my other guides:
Kiwi Kitchens matches the ingredient quality of the bigger NZ brands but has more limited availability and fewer recipe options. The freeze-dried range is excellent, but they don't have the same retail presence as ZIWI or K9.
Availability is patchy. Some independent pet stores stock it, and it's available online through select retailers, but it's not widely distributed like ZIWI Peak. Check their website for stockist locations.
Kiwi Kitchens sits between premium kibble and top-tier freeze-dried brands like ZIWI. Expect roughly $8-14 per day for a medium dog, making it more affordable than ZIWI but pricier than most kibble.
Yes, their freeze-dried range needs rehydrating with warm water before serving — similar to K9 Natural. Their canned wet food is ready to serve straight from the tin.
Their recipes are formulated for all life stages, so they can be fed to puppies. However, with limited recipe variety, you may find more puppy-specific options with larger brands like Royal Canin or Black Hawk. For puppy feeding guidance, see my [best puppy food guide](/guides/best-puppy-food-nz/) and breed-specific advice for [Labradors](/guides/best-dog-food-labradors-nz/) and [Staffies](/guides/best-dog-food-staffies-nz/).
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