ZIWI Peak vs K9 Natural — both NZ-made, both premium, both expensive. We compare ingredients, price, and convenience to find which is better for your dog.
Last updated
By Jess Aldridge 
ZIWI Peak is the better pick for most NZ dog owners. Air-dried, ready to serve, more protein options, and roughly 25–30% cheaper per day. It’s the practical choice that doesn’t sacrifice quality.
K9 Natural is the better pick if raw feeding philosophy matters to you. Freeze-dried raw with higher protein, green tripe for gut health, and a nutritional profile that active and working dogs genuinely respond to.
Both are NZ-made. Both are excellent. The decision mostly comes down to whether you want to add water to your dog’s dinner.
| ZIWI Peak | K9 Natural | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | Napier, NZ | Christchurch, NZ |
| Format | Air-dried | Freeze-dried raw (+ frozen) |
| Process | Slow air-dried over hours | Freeze-dried (frozen then sublimated) |
| Prep required | None — scoop and serve | Yes — must add water to rehydrate |
| Storage | Shelf-stable, resealable bag | Shelf-stable until rehydrated |
| Protein range | 8+ flavours | 5 flavours |
| Cat food | Yes (ZIWI Peak) | Yes (Feline Natural) |
| B-Corp | No | Yes |
Let’s look at the beef recipes side by side.
Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Lung, NZ Green-Lipped Mussel, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Beef Bone, Lecithin, Chicory Inulin, Dried Kelp, Minerals, Vitamins, DL-Methionine
Beef, Beef Blood, Beef Tripe, Beef Bone, Beef Liver, Beef Heart, Beef Kidney, Eggs, Flaxseed, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrot, Spinach, Chard, Kelp, Apple, Pear, NZ Green-Lipped Mussel, Coconut Oil, Garlic
The four differences that actually matter:
1. Green tripe. K9 Natural has it; ZIWI doesn’t. Tripe contains natural digestive enzymes and probiotics — it’s the main reason raw-feeding advocates reach for K9 Natural. If your dog has a sensitive gut, this is worth paying attention to. You can also supplement with dedicated pet probiotics if choosing ZIWI Peak.
2. Vegetables and fruit. K9 Natural includes broccoli, carrot, spinach, apple, pear. ZIWI is almost entirely meat. Neither approach is wrong — it depends on your view of whether dogs benefit from plant matter. Raw-feeding philosophy leans carnivore; both formulations have their defenders.
3. Added vitamins vs whole-food sourcing. ZIWI adds supplemental minerals and vitamins. K9 Natural relies on organs and vegetables to cover micronutrients. In practice, both meet AAFCO standards.
4. Eggs and flaxseed. K9 Natural includes these for additional omega fatty acids. ZIWI covers its omega bases through green-lipped mussel and organ meats.
Both use NZ-sourced proteins. Both include NZ green-lipped mussel for joint health (also available separately as omega-3 supplements if using other foods). Neither contains grains, fillers, or artificial preservatives.
| Nutrient (dry matter basis) | ZIWI Peak Beef | K9 Natural Beef |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 36% | 44% |
| Fat | 25% | 34% |
| Fibre | 2% | 2% |
| Moisture | 14% (air-dried) | 8% (freeze-dried) |
K9 Natural is meaningfully higher in both protein and fat — freeze-dried raw locks in nutrients with minimal processing, and the numbers reflect that.
In practical terms:
For a 20kg dog, here’s what you’re looking at in 2026:
| ZIWI Peak Air-Dried | K9 Natural Freeze-Dried | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily amount | ~400g | ~170g (dry, before rehydrating) |
| Daily cost | $9–13 | $12–18 |
| Monthly cost | $270–390 | $360–540 |
ZIWI Peak is roughly 25–30% cheaper per day. On a year’s supply for a medium dog, that gap becomes a few hundred dollars. At these price points, pet insurance can help budget for veterinary costs alongside premium nutrition investments.
The frozen option: K9 Natural’s frozen range is significantly cheaper than freeze-dried. If you have freezer space and don’t mind the planning involved, frozen K9 Natural can match ZIWI on price while keeping the raw feeding benefits. For other raw feeding options in NZ, check out our raw dog food delivery comparison.
The topper approach: Both brands sell smaller packs designed as meal toppers. Spooning a bit of either over quality kibble gets your dog closer to premium nutrition at a fraction of the cost. This is genuinely how most NZ owners use these products. For budget-conscious premium feeding, see our cheapest dog food guide for base kibble options that pair well with premium toppers.
Check price at Pet Direct — ZIWI Peak →
ZIWI Peak is air-dried. Open bag, scoop, serve. The texture is somewhere between jerky and dry food — no prep, no waiting, leave it in the bag between meals.
K9 Natural is freeze-dried, which means you measure it out dry, add warm water, and wait a few minutes for it to rehydrate before serving. It’s not arduous, but it’s a daily extra step — and you can’t leave rehydrated food in the bowl the way you would dry food.
For busy households, this is a real consideration. If you have kids, a packed morning, or just don’t want to think about it, ZIWI’s simplicity is a genuine advantage.
ZIWI’s wider range matters most if you’re doing an elimination diet for allergies — single-protein Venison and Mackerel & Lamb let you isolate proteins in a way K9 Natural’s five-flavour lineup doesn’t.
Both are made in NZ, but they’re not equally easy to find on a shelf.
ZIWI Peak is at Animates, PetDirect, Pet Circle, Petstock, and selected supermarkets. Most NZ pet stores carry it; you can grab it on a Saturday afternoon without planning ahead.
K9 Natural is mainly online — PetDirect, Pet Circle, the K9 Natural website, and selected vet clinics. Animates carries it in some stores. If you want it in hand on the same day, ring ahead.
Both work for puppies, but check feeding guides carefully — puppies need more per kilo of body weight, and the cost adds up fast with a growing dog. K9 Natural’s higher protein and fat suits growth phases well; ZIWI’s convenience wins for busy puppy owners. See our best puppy food in NZ guide for how both stack up against purpose-formulated puppy kibble.
ZIWI Peak. Lower fat is generally better for older, less active dogs. Both include NZ green-lipped mussel, which is genuinely useful for aging joints. For cats, see our senior cat food guide for age-appropriate nutrition principles that also apply to senior dogs.
ZIWI Peak. More single-protein options make elimination diets easier to manage. Venison and Mackerel & Lamb both sidestep the common allergens (chicken, beef). For comprehensive allergy feeding strategies, see our dedicated dog food for allergies guide and grain-free options.
K9 Natural. The higher protein and fat supports real energy expenditure. Works well for high-output breeds like Labradors and Staffies where protein-rich feeding supports muscle condition.
K9 Natural. The green tripe is the deciding factor here. Plenty of owners report improved digestion when switching — the natural digestive enzymes and probiotics in tripe are hard to replicate.
ZIWI Peak for convenience. K9 Natural frozen if you’re committed to raw and have freezer space.
From NZ pet forums, Reddit, and a few Facebook groups:
Choose ZIWI Peak if:
Choose K9 Natural if:
Or do what most NZ owners do: buy whichever is on special, use it as a topper on good kibble, and don’t lose sleep over the rest. Both are among the best dog foods made anywhere in the world — this is not a decision you can get wrong. For other premium brand comparisons, see Black Hawk vs Ivory Coat and ACANA dog food review.
Check price at Pet Direct — K9 Natural →
Read the individual reviews:
ZIWI Peak is roughly 25–30% cheaper per day. For a 20kg dog, ZIWI costs approximately $9–13/day compared to K9 Natural's $12–18/day. K9 Natural's frozen range is more competitive on price if you have freezer space.
No. ZIWI Peak is air-dried and ready to serve — just scoop and go. K9 Natural is freeze-dried and must be rehydrated with warm water before serving.
K9 Natural has significantly more protein at 44% (dry matter basis) compared to ZIWI Peak's 36%. K9 Natural also has higher fat at 34% vs 25%. This makes K9 Natural better suited to active or working dogs.
ZIWI Peak is generally better for dogs with allergies because it offers more single-protein options for elimination diets, including venison and mackerel & lamb that avoid common allergens like chicken and beef.
Yes, both are proudly NZ-made. ZIWI Peak is based in Napier and K9 Natural in Christchurch. Both use NZ-sourced proteins and include NZ green-lipped mussel for joint support.
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