Oceanz Pukekohe is part of Oceanz Seafood Markets, described on the group's own site as New Zealand's largest specialist seafood retailer. The company was formed in 2003 by a local businessman with a lifetime passion for fishing, starting with a single store in Botany Downs before growing into a chain of stores across the wider Auckland region, including Pukekohe.
Oceanz sources its fish through an associated fishing entity, ownership of fishing quota, and strategic supply arrangements with fishermen and fishing companies, which the group describes as a "boat to the plate" approach aimed at delivering fresh, high-quality seafood. Staff can prepare fish in whatever form a customer wants, from a cleaned whole fish through to freshly battered fish and chips.
Across the group, Oceanz has built a strong reputation for its fish and chips, which have picked up multiple awards at other Oceanz stores over the years, alongside a broader focus on promoting the health benefits of eating seafood regularly.
Oceanz Pukekohe is one of the Auckland-wide stores belonging to Oceanz Seafood Markets, a business that describes itself as New Zealand's largest specialist seafood retailer. The group's story began in 2003, when a local businessman with a lifetime passion for fishing opened the first Oceanz store in Botany Downs, turning a personal interest into a business built around delivering healthy, high-quality seafood to New Zealand shoppers.
A big part of what sets Oceanz apart, according to the company, is its control over its own supply chain. The group has an associated entity that catches a large portion of the fish it sells, its owners hold and control significant fishing quota, and it has struck strategic supply arrangements with a number of independent fishermen and fishing companies. Oceanz calls this its "boat to the plate" approach, and says it's central to delivering fresh, high-quality seafood on a sustainable basis. Having ownership ties to a fishing company has also, in the company's words, given the Oceanz team a deeper understanding of the entire fishing supply chain, from sea to shore to store.
At an Oceanz store, seafood is prepared however the customer wants it — from a cleaned whole fish to fillets, right through to freshly battered fish and chips. The stores carry a range of fresh seafood, including fish like snapper, along with crayfish, oysters, scallops and prawns. Oceanz's fish and chips in particular have built a strong reputation across the group over the years, picking up recognition and awards at various Oceanz stores for the quality of their fresh fish, crisp batter and chunky chips.
Oceanz is vocal about the health case for eating more seafood, pointing to evidence that just two servings a week — roughly 200 to 400 grams — can help lower the risk of coronary heart disease, support nerve and brain development in infants, lower blood pressure, and even help skin health. The company highlights New Zealand seafood as high in Omega-3s and protein, low in carbohydrates and saturated fat, and a good source of essential vitamins and minerals. It also points to New Zealand's Quota Management System as ensuring the seafood sold has been responsibly and sustainably fished.
Beyond the counter, Oceanz maintains an extensive recipe library on its website, covering dishes like fish pie, oven baked fish, seafood green curry, tarakihi ceviche, prawn risotto, and salmon with herb crust, among many others. There's also a dedicated Seafood Guide covering how to choose New Zealand seafood, how to cook it, and the health benefits behind it — a useful resource for anyone new to cooking fish or wanting to try something beyond their usual go-to.
As one of several Oceanz stores spread across the greater Auckland region — alongside locations such as Botany, Henderson, New Lynn, Manukau Mall, Westgate, Albany and Manurewa — Oceanz Pukekohe gives local customers access to the same fresh seafood range and award-recognised fish and chips the group is known for. For questions or enquiries, the Pukekohe store can be reached directly by phone, or customers can use the enquiry form on the Oceanz website, which the company aims to respond to within 24 hours.