Ringawera Baker

About Ringawera Baker

Ringawera Baker is a small, artisan bakery located in Matakana, founded by bakers who understand the craft of their trade. The name "Ringawera" translates to "hot hands" or "quick hands"—a Māori term referring to the skilled kitchen workers on the marae—and it perfectly captures the spirit of this operation. The business started on Waiheke Island as maker of the triple Cuisine Artisan Award-winning Ringawera Lavash, and evolved into a wholesale bakery supplying cafes and restaurants across the island. The owners recognised that Matakana was the ideal location to open a retail bakery where they could engage directly with customers, offering them real loaves of bread, proper pastries, and quality coffee in a relaxed setting. Their philosophy is simple: classical, simple, and tasty food without fuss. Everything is made with care and attention to the fundamentals of good baking.

Ringawera Baker: Award-Winning Artisan Bakery in Matakana

Nestled in Matakana, Ringawera Baker is more than just a place to grab breakfast—it's a bakery rooted in craftsmanship, tradition, and the Māori cultural understanding of what it means to feed people well.

The name Ringawera translates to "hot hands" or "quick hands," a term used on the marae to describe the skilled kitchen workers who move deftly around their workspace, knowing exactly what needs to be done. It's the perfect name for a bakery where every loaf, pastry, and sandwich is made with intention and expertise.

From Waiheke to Matakana

Ringawera's story began on Waiheke Island, where it made a name for itself creating the triple Cuisine Artisan Award-winning Ringawera Lavash. As the business grew, it evolved from a craft bakery into a wholesale operation, supplying breads and pastries to the island's many cafes and restaurants. But the owners recognised something was missing: the direct connection with customers, the chance to serve people face-to-face, and to share their passion for real bread and proper pastries.

Matakana offered the perfect opportunity. A thriving village with a strong community focus, it became the ideal home for a retail bakery that could put customers first while maintaining the principles that made Ringawera special on Waiheke.

Simplicity, Classically Done

The philosophy at Ringawera Baker is refreshingly straightforward: classical, simple, and tasty food without fuss. You won't find complicated trends or gimmicks here. Instead, you'll find real loaves of bread baked with proper technique, pastries that taste like they should, and coffee that's worth the visit. Whether it's a fresh sandwich built to order, a sweet pastry for morning tea, or a savoury pie for lunch, everything reflects a commitment to doing the fundamentals well.

The bakery opens at 7am every day, ready to supply the village with fresh-baked goods. It's the kind of place where the quality of the ingredients and the skill of the bakers speak louder than any marketing could.

Signature items

• Ringawera Lavash
• Artisan Breads
• Sweet Pastries
• Savoury Pastries
• Sandwiches & Toasties
• Coffee

Menu

Cakes

• Cakes — Custom and ready-made cakes available

Breads

• Artisan Loaves — Classical breads baked fresh daily with traditional techniques

Sweet Pastry

• Sweet Pastries — Freshly baked sweet pastries and baked goods

Savoury Pastry

• Savoury Pastries — Savoury pastries and baked items made daily

Coffee & Drinks

• Coffee — Quality coffee served throughout the day

Sandwiches & Toasties

• Sandwiches — Made-to-order sandwiches crafted fresh
• Toasties — Toasted sandwiches prepared to order

Frequently asked questions

What does Ringawera mean?

Ringawera translates from Māori to "hot hands" or "quick hands"—a traditional term for skilled kitchen workers on the marae who move with speed and precision around their workspace.

What is the Ringawera Lavash?

The Ringawera Lavash is our signature bread that won a triple Cuisine Artisan Award. It's what made Ringawera famous on Waiheke Island before we opened the Matakana bakery.

What time do you open?

We open at 7am every day of the week, ready to serve fresh-baked breads, pastries, and coffee to the Matakana community.

What are your specialities?

We specialise in artisan breads, sweet and savoury pastries, made-to-order sandwiches and toasties, cakes, and quality coffee. Everything is made fresh daily using classical baking techniques.

Where did Ringawera start?

Ringawera began on Waiheke Island as an artisan bakery making award-winning bread. It later became a wholesale supplier to cafes and restaurants before opening the Matakana retail location.

What is your baking philosophy?

We believe in classical, simple, and tasty food without fuss. We focus on doing the fundamentals well—using proper techniques, quality ingredients, and genuine craftsmanship.

Do you cater for events or wholesale orders?

We primarily focus on serving customers directly at our Matakana location. For enquiries about catering or larger orders, please get in touch at Ringawera@xtra.co.nz.

Tips

• {"body":"Being a small artisan bakery, popular items sell out as the day progresses. Early morning is the best time to find the full range of fresh breads and pastries.","title":"Arrive early for the best selection"}
• {"body":"The award-winning Lavash that made Ringawera famous is available here. It's worth trying to understand why it won a triple Cuisine Artisan Award.","title":"Try the Ringawera Lavash"}
• {"body":"The owners are proud of serving the best coffee in town. Pair it with a fresh pastry or sandwich for a proper breakfast or lunch.","title":"Don't miss the coffee"}
• {"body":"The made-to-order sandwiches let you customise exactly what you want, using the quality breads and fresh ingredients the bakery has on hand.","title":"Build your own sandwich"}