FAQs
What is tastemakers?
Tastemakers is a culinary community offering monthly competitions, progressive scoring systems and chances to showcase your skills locally and globally.
How much does it cost?
It’s $69.00 per month, which includes free shipping of your tastemakers mystery box. It's a recurring monthly subscription, with payment coming out on the 1st of the month. E.g. Payment will be processed on 1 August 2025, for the August competition.
What's included in my subscription?
Firstly, you get to compete in the monthly tastemakers competition where your dish will be rated and you'll be in to win epic prizes. Your monthly mystery box will be sent to your delivery address and it will be packed with ingredients. Expect 8 - 10 products ranging from product to protein and beyond. All products are specifically chosen for you to be creative in the kitchen.
You'll also get access to the tastemakers online portal where the fun happens. Here you will have access to tastebuddy groups, resources, see how you compare individually and against your tastebuddies.
How do I join?
Simply register, complete your profile and ensure your payment and delivery details are up to date.
Who can join?
Tastemakers is open to all food enthusiasts in Auckland, regardless of skill level.
Can I cancel any time?
Absolutely. It just means you won’t be able to compete for the next month, receive mystery boxes or have access to the tastemakers online community. You need to cancel before the end of the month to be opted out of the coming month. E.g. Cancel before 11:59pm 31 July to be opted out of the August competition.
Can I pause my subscription?
Yes! Please email support@tastemakers.co.nz and we'll be sure to pause your subscription for the month/s requested.
When will my tastemakers mystery box arrive?
Your mystery box is shipped by the end of the first full week of each month and typically arrives within 2–3 business days in Auckland. If you miss a delivery or there is an issue with your mystery box or ingredients, contact support@tastemakers.co.nz within 48 hours for support.
How do I submit my dish for the monthly competition?
Upload a photo of your final dish, write a description and select all the products you used via the tastemakers online portal by the 20th of each month. Ensure your submission follows the competition guidelines provided in the portal.
How do the ratings work?
Our thoughtfully designed scoring system ensures every dish is evaluated fairly and consistently, celebrating culinary creativity and skill. Each submission is judged by our experienced tasteraters - passionate food experts trained to assess dishes with precision. They score your dish on four key criteria, each rated out of 25, for a total of 100 points:
Creativity (25 points): How innovative and original is your dish? We reward bold flavour combinations and unique approaches to the mystery box ingredients.
Use of Ingredients (25 points): How effectively did you incorporate the mystery box items? Tasteraters look for thoughtful integration that highlights the provided products.
Presentation (25 points): Does your dish look as good as it tastes? Visual appeal, plating, and attention to detail are key.
The X Factor (25 points): That special something that makes your dish stand out - whether it’s a surprising twist, storytelling, or sheer wow-factor.
Each month, tasteraters review submissions through our secure online portal, ensuring consistency with detailed guidelines. Scores are averaged across multiple tasteraters to minimise bias and the highest-scoring dishes are cross-checked for adherence to competition rules. Winners are selected based on total points, with ties resolved by a panel review focusing on the X Factor. This multi-layered process ensures your culinary creations are rated with care and expertise, giving every tastemaker a fair shot at the top spot!
Who qualifies as a tasterater and how are they chosen?
Tasteraters are experienced food enthusiasts with culinary training or expertise, selected by our team to ensure fair and consistent judging.
Can I dispute my rating?
If you believe that your ranking or rating was unfair, you can dispute it within 5 working days after you received your rating. Please email support@tastemakers.co.nz with any concerns about ratings. Our tasteraters are experienced in ranking dishes, but do get it wrong every now and then.
What kind of prizes can I win?
Prizes vary monthly and may include premium kitchen gadgets, restaurant vouchers or exclusive culinary experiences. Winners are notified via email and announced on the tastemakers portal by the 30th of each month.
What are tastebuddies?
Tastebuddies are your online groups. This is where you can have a group of friends, family, colleagues or even your netball team can have your own private tastemakers competition. All of your tastebuddies dishes will be added to your group and you can see how you stack up against each other. You’ll also compete as a team and see how your group's average score stacks up against other tastebuddy groups.
How do I get my friends to join?
You can easily send them the link to sign up as a tastemaker and join you as one of your tastebuddy groups.
What features does the tastemakers online portal offer?
Once you're a subscribed tastemaker, the online portal lets you enter the monthly competition, submit dishes, view scores, join tastebuddy groups and explore tips from culinary experts. It’s accessible on desktop and mobile devices.
Can I compete for tastemaker of the year?
Absolutely. The Tastemaker of the Year is chosen based on the highest average score across at least 6 monthly competitions (August–July). Winners receive a trophy, a prize and a feature on our platform.
What if I have technical issues with the portal or other questions?
For technical support or general inquiries, email support@tastemakers.co.nz. Our team responds within 24 hours.