Rotorua's culinary stars will be shining bright this winter with the 2023 Matariki Dish Challenge which has returned for a second year.

From June 12 - July 16 eateries from around Rotorua will celebrate the food, culture and stories that the Matariki period brings and go head to head to see who will be crowned the Matariki Champion and Peoples Choice winner.

The Challenge was officially launched at Te Pā Tū on Tuesday, March 21.

The launch was designed to both excite and educate local eateries before they set off to create their culinary creations.

"Local producers showcased what wonderful local ingredients the chefs can incorporate in their dishes," says a statement released on behalf of the challenge organisers.

"Chefs were also able to participate in a workshop to gain more understanding of Matariki, while eatery owners and managers participated in a workshop run by HospitalityNZ on leveraging their entry into the challenge via social media."

The Rotorua Matariki Dish Challenge supported by RotoruaNZ is designed to not just showcase the region's food offering at this special time of year but to help eateries grow and improve.

www.matarikidishchallenge.co.nz