Published: 30 September 2026
Lower Hutt diners devoured around $500,000 worth of Burger Wellington creations during August, serving up a welcome boost for local hospitality.
Figures supplied by 15 of the 21 participating Lower Hutt venues show they sold 15,427 burgers, generating $420,337 in sales.
If you add in the six venues that did not provide figures, it’s estimated about $500,000 worth of burgers would have been sold across all 21 venues.
The economic boost may have stretched well beyond the burger itself, with diners also potentially spending on drinks and other menu items, then visiting nearby shops and businesses while they were out.
Lower Hutt Mayor Ken Laban says the numbers show the city’s burger fans were hungry to support local.
“Lower Hutt has a creative and diverse food scene, supported by hardworking local businesses and people who are passionate about what they serve.”
Hutt City Council and HuttValleyNZ supported this year’s event with the first Hutt Burger Explorers campaign. It saw three locals take on the tasty task of eating their way around the city while sharing photos, short videos and social media posts.
Bellbird Eatery co-owner/chef Chetan Pangam created the Lamb-da-Rassa Pao burger which won Burger Wellington’s Lower Hutt section and came second overall.
“I had huge support from Hutt City Council and the community support was amazing, from local suppliers like Zany Zeus and Louder to the incredible people of Lower Hutt. It blew me away.”
Chetan has history with Burger Wellington having won the award, while at a different establishment, in 2023 and 2024, and being one of five finalists last year.
Visa Wellington On a Plate Festival Director Beth Brash says the results show Lower Hutt diners had a strong appetite for the event.
“It’s fantastic to see Lower Hutt diners get behind Burger Wellington in such a big way. These figures show the real value the festival can bring to local hospitality businesses, while encouraging people to try somewhere new and discover more of the great food on offer across the Hutt.
“More Lower Hutt eateries took part this year, and it’s exciting to see that growing appetite reflected in the results.”
Council thanks the participating businesses, Hutt Burger Explorers and everyone who tucked into a local creation during August.
Burger Wellington may be off the menu for another year, but there are still plenty of reasons to keep exploring Lower Hutt’s eateries and supporting local hospitality.