Culverden Takeaways is a fish and chip shop at 33 Mountainview Road in Culverden, a small township on the Hurunui plains of North Canterbury. No rating or opening hours are listed here, but the shop keeps a Facebook page for news. A good fish and chip shop fries everything to order, so a short wait is a promising sign: fish in a light, crisp batter, thick-cut chips fluffy inside. In a town like Culverden, well inland from the coast, the fish will typically be frozen fillets, often hoki, as is standard for New Zealand takeaways; what matters is hot, clean oil and a steady hand at the fryer. Regulars order at off-peak times, ask for things cooked fresh, and eat the parcel while it still steams in its paper. For locals and travellers heading up the Hanmer Springs road, it is a handy spot for a hot meal on the way through.