From march to menu: Grayze’s homecoming to Treaty Grounds

Waitangi Day has long been a time for reflection and shared moments. But for Zhaiyne Gray, it is also a stage to serve heritage on a platter.

Her food truck venture, Grayze, is more than a business. It’s a family mission to celebrate culture, community, and the kai revolution.

Gray (Fasito’o, Satupa’itea - Sāmoa, Māori) co-runs the “food train” with her siblings and mother. Last week, the family parked their three signature mobile kitchens at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, serving hundreds of attendees.

“Even though we moved to Auckland [for] school, my mum always made the effort to bring us back up here, early as mornings,” she told PMN News. “So it’s an honour to be here to serve back to our community,” she says.

The Sāmoan and Tino Rangatiratanga flags flying above the trailers stood out in the bustling market area near Te Tiriti o Waitangi Marae. It signalled the deep cultural roots behind the business.

While many know Grayze for its “unique asf” fleet of mobile kitchens, the heart of the business is about identity, heritage, and connection to whenua and tangata.

Gray’s story is a tapestry of her dual heritage: a Sāmoan father and Māori mother from Kawakawa.

“I think food is important, I think food is the thing that brings our Pasifika people together, Polynesia as a unit,” Gray says.

“On days like this, people come back to the whenua to feel like they're on the right side of history, so bringing what we love to everyone else here is our main thing.”

Grayze smash burgers. Photo/Facebook

This year marked Grayze’s third as a stallholder at Waitangi, but participation in the annual marches runs much deeper. Growing up, Gray’s mother ensured the family returned every year.

Transitioning from march participant to business owner, she says, is a “full circle moment”.

“For me, it's like a big full circle moment, to grow up on this land and then to come back to this land and offer what we have to offer and just be a part of it in a different sense,” Gray says.

The Grayze Fleet. Photo/Facebook

The Grayze fleet lives up to its name with three specialised menus across the trailers: one serves modern Māori cuisine, another rolls out loaded mini pancakes, and the last offers their signature smash burgers.

Using locally sourced, fresh ingredients, the family ensures their business supports the very community that raised them.

Gray and her family have been touring Northland since the beginning of the year. For Auckland fans wanting a “Grayze fix”, she encourages them to follow their social media for updates on the next stops.

Waitangi Day isn’t just another busy weekend for Grayze. It’s a homecoming, a celebration of culture, and a reminder that food can be a powerful connector.