Product Guides6 min read4 August 2026

Ziwi Peak Dog Food NZ: Range Guide — Which Line Suits Your Dog?

An independent NZ guide to Ziwi Peak dog food — Air-Dried, Steam & Dried, and Canned ranges, store prices, and how to choose.

Founded in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, Ziwi Peak is an internationally recognised pioneer in ultra-premium, high-meat pet nutrition. Built around a philosophy of feeding dogs a biologically appropriate carnivore-oriented diet, Ziwi Peak crafts recipes using ethically sourced New Zealand meats, seafood, poultry, organs, and bone. The brand excludes low-cost grain fillers, corn, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives, glycerines, or rendered animal meals. In New Zealand and export markets, Ziwi Peak is positioned at the top tier of raw-inspired feeding, offered across three main product lines: Air-Dried Dog Food, Steam & Dried Dog Food, and Canned (Wet) Dog Food.

The ranges at a glance

Range	Key Features	Main Protein Sources	Price Bracket*	Ideal For
Air-Dried Dog Food	Twin-stage air-drying; 96% meat, organs, seafood & bone	Beef, Lamb, Mackerel & Lamb, Tripe & Lamb, Venison, Chicken	~$45 to ~$320 depending on bag size (450 g to 4 kg) and protein	High-protein feeding, picky eaters, active dogs, or nutrient-dense toppers
Steam & Dried Dog Food	Steam & air-dry hybrid; 85% raw animal ingredients	Wild South Pacific Fish, Grass-Fed Beef, Free-Range Chicken	~$50 to ~$185 depending on bag size (800 g to 3.2 kg)	High-meat feeding in a lighter kibble format with moderate daily feeding cost
Canned (Wet) Dog Food	Chunky loaf in broth; 92% meat, organs, seafood & bone	Beef, Lamb, Mackerel & Lamb, Venison, Chicken, Tripe & Lamb	~$8.50 to ~$11 per 390 g can	Senior dogs, hydration support, picky eaters, or mixing with dry food

**Indicative everyday in-store price (NZD), correct as at August 2026, before any special — check the live product page for today's price.*

Air-Dried Dog Food range

Ziwi Peak's flagship Air-Dried range uses a gentle twin-stage air-drying process that dehydrates fresh raw ingredients at low temperatures. This process preserves delicate vitamins, enzymes, and proteins while destroying harmful foodborne pathogens without high-heat extrusion. Recipes contain 96% meat, organs, cold-washed green tripe, New Zealand green-lipped mussels, and bone. Available single and multi-protein options include Beef, Lamb, Mackerel & Lamb, Tripe & Lamb, Free-Range Chicken, and Provenance blends.

Suits: small breeds, working or high-energy dogs, picky eaters, dogs requiring a single-protein diet for food elimination trials, or owners using the food as a high-reward training treat or kibble topper.

Worth noting: Ziwi Peak Air-Dried food is exceptionally calorie-dense (often exceeding 4,800 to 5,200 kcal/kg). Gram-for-gram, it contains roughly double the energy of standard dry kibble. Portions must be accurately weighed on a kitchen scale; using a conventional kibble scoop frequently leads to accidental overfeeding, weight gain, or loose stools.

Steam & Dried Dog Food range

Ziwi Peak's Steam & Dried line incorporates a processing method that combines gentle steaming with low-temperature air-drying. This creates a lighter, micro-crisp texture while retaining an 85% raw animal ingredient ratio. Formulations feature New Zealand ethically farmed meats or wild-caught fish paired with functional ingredients like green-lipped mussels, organic kelp, and digestible plant fibre.

Suits: medium to large dogs whose owners want Ziwi's New Zealand meat quality in a more accessible everyday feeding format that is easier to scoop and mix than dense air-dried jerky.

Worth noting: while Steam & Dried food is more economical per serving than pure Air-Dried food, it remains in the ultra-premium category compared to standard commercial kibble brands.

Canned (Wet) Dog Food range

Ziwi Peak Canned recipes contain 92% meat, organs, seafood, and bone packed in a rich moisture broth. The formulas avoid carrageenan, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, guar gum, or synthetic gelling agents, relying instead on natural meat proteins and New Zealand green-lipped mussels for joint health support. Cans are BPA-free and offered in 390 g sizes across matching protein varieties including Beef, Lamb, Venison, and Mackerel & Lamb.

Suits: dogs needing extra dietary hydration, senior dogs with dental sensitivity, or picky eaters requiring an aromatic wet food mixer.

Worth noting: canned food has a high moisture content (around 78%). Feeding a large adult dog exclusively on canned food requires multiple cans per day, making it significantly more expensive and logistically demanding than dry or air-dried options.

How to choose

When evaluating Ziwi Peak against standard dog foods, apply an objective, non-commercial framework such as the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee guidelines:

Calculate actual caloric intake. Ziwi Peak's high nutrient density means daily serving sizes in grams are much smaller than traditional kibble. Always consult the packaging feeding chart based on target adult weight and activity level.
Check AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statements. Verify whether the specific Ziwi Peak formula is designated for "Adult Maintenance" or "All Life Stages." Most Ziwi Peak recipes meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages, making them suitable for growing puppies as well as adults.
Use single-protein recipes for dietary sensitivity. For dogs with suspected food intolerances, Ziwi's single-protein options (such as Venison or Beef) allow owners to conduct clean dietary trials under veterinary guidance.

Honest considerations

Price segment. Ziwi Peak is positioned in the ultra-premium pricing tier. Small 450 g air-dried bags range from ~$45 to ~$55, 1 kg bags sit around ~$85 to ~$105, 2.5 kg bags range from ~$180 to ~$220, and 4 kg bags (especially novel proteins like Venison) reach ~$280 to ~$320. Cans cost ~$8.50 to ~$11 per 390 g (indicative everyday prices, August 2026).
Gradual transition requirement. Due to the rich protein and fat levels (fat content often 28% to 32% in air-dried formulas), dogs transitioning from high-carbohydrate kibble require a extended 10 to 14 day transition period to allow their digestive system to adapt.
Storage and handling. Air-dried bags should be sealed tightly after opening and stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. They do not require refrigeration but should be consumed within 8 weeks of opening.

Transparency note

PetMall's store stocks the Ziwi Peak brand. This guide was written to our encyclopedia editorial standard: it draws on Ziwi Peak's official specifications, live in-store data, and the independent WSAVA framework; it presents strengths and limits side by side; and it avoids "best" or "number one" language. Our aim is to help you choose the right food for your dog, which sometimes means another brand entirely.

Sources

Ziwi Peak NZ — Dog Food Collection: https://ziwipets.com/collections/dog-food
Ziwi Peak NZ — Our Story and Ethics (founding, sourcing): https://ziwipets.com/pages/our-story-and-ethics
WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee — *Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods* (updated 10 March 2021): https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Selecting-a-pet-food-for-your-pet-updated-2021_WSAVA-Global-Nutrition-Toolkit.pdf

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