Kiwi Chef Peter Gordon is set to join the Famous Faces lineup at this year's Manu World Champs in Auckland.
Internationally acclaimed chef Peter Gordon will swap the kitchen for the water this weekend when he competes in the Z Manu World Champs Grand Final on Auckland’s waterfront in New Zealand.
Best known as a pioneer of fusion cuisine and founder of iconic restaurants including Homeland, The Sugar Club and London’s renowned The Providores and Tapa Room, Gordon will take part in the event’s Famous Faces division, where celebrities attempt New Zealand’s iconic splash dive - the Manu in the interest of water safety. Each jump will raise funds to help New Zealand kids access water safety lessons.
A Manu is the classic Kiwi V-shaped dive bomb, where competitors fold their bodies in a sharp V before hitting the water feet-first, creating the biggest possible splash. The spectacular dive is a beloved summer tradition across New Zealand, from backyard pools to harbour wharves. The Z Manu World Champs has attracted more than 2000 participants across Australia and New Zealand, competing to secure their place in the Grand Final.
Aside from the prizes, being crowned a Manu champion carries something even more important: mana and glory, respect and bragging rights. Mastering the perfect splash is a unique and celebrated part of Kiwi culture.
The competition, which has run throughout the summer across New Zealand and Australia, culminates in a Grand Final at Karanga Plaza, where a custom-built seven-metre x nineteen metre platform transforms the waterfront into a spectacular Manu arena.
The event is being held as part of Moana Auckland, New Zealand’s Ocean Festival - a month-long celebration of the ocean that highlights the culture, sport, food and stories connected to the sea.
For Gordon, the setting is particularly personal.
“I live in Wynyard Quarter, right here in central Auckland, where the event is being held,” he said.
“So I’ve watched the Manu Champs with interest and joy over the years, so it’s pretty special to now be taking part.”
The chef said he’s a regular in the neighbourhood and enjoys the unique connection Aucklanders have with the water and harbour.
“I walk my dogs around here most days and often watch people enjoying swimming in the water, right at the steps next to Park Hyatt Auckland. We’re incredibly lucky to have this facility and this beautiful waterfront right in the middle of the city.”
For visiting food lovers, Gordon said the harbour environment that hosts the Manu Champs is also central to the region’s cuisine.
“We’re surrounded by water, which means we have access to some of the best seafood in the world.”
A Manu is a traditional way of celebrating the water that we are surrounded by in Aotearoa.
“I am just pleased to be taking part and having fun alongside New Zealanders from all walks of life. I can’t promise my Manu will be a great demonstration of technique, but the spirit is certainly there!”
Peter Gordon will compete in the Famous Faces division alongside world champion boxer Lani Daniels, former All Black Piri Weepu and Lord of the Rings actor Bruce Hopkins, with each attempting to master the perfect splash.
130 finalists compete across youth, adult and freestyle divisions, launching themselves from the towering platform in pursuit of Manu glory.
For Gordon, though, the experience is as much about place as it is competition.
Subscribe to the Restaurant & Café newsletter for weekly industry updates and event coverage.
