Major Rager · Origin Story
Meet The Major
From the shores of New Zealand to behind the bar, a life shaped by sea, soil, and flavour.
The Journey of Major Rager began not in a bar, but in a small coastal town on the North Island of New Zealand, where the sea, the land, and two extraordinary parents conspired to shape one of the most creative mixologists of his generation.
A Childhood
By The Sea
In a small coastal town on the North Island of New Zealand, a boy named Major grew up surrounded by the beauty of the sea, the scent of native plants, and the unspoken rhythms of the land. Though he was destined to become one of the most creative mixologists of his time, his childhood was far from glamorous. It was simple, serene, and deeply connected to nature, thanks to his parents, Jacob and Anahera, who lived their lives as stewards of both land and sea.
Roots of Something Bold
Jacob, Major’s father, was a fisherman by trade, but also a culinary artist. His recipes were never the same twice, always influenced by the day’s catch or whatever herbs and spices he felt like experimenting with. Simple yet bold, fresh yet full of surprises. This was Major’s first introduction to the art of flavour.
Anahera, Major’s mother, was a botanist specialising in New Zealand’s native plants, a master of infusions, teas, and herbal remedies. She taught Major about kawakawa and the manuka tree, instilling the belief that nature holds the key to harmony and that every ingredient has a purpose.
Together, Jacob and Anahera created a home filled with creativity, love, and deep respect for the earth. Major’s childhood memories were steeped in the aromas of his father’s cooking and his mother’s brews, early experiences that planted the seeds of his career in mixology.
It would take years for Major to realise his true calling was not on the sea like his father, nor in a lab like his mother, but behind a bar, where he could blend his passions for flavour, experimentation, and storytelling into one singular art form.
“His true calling was not on the sea like his father, nor in a lab like his mother, but behind a bar, where he could blend his passions for flavour, experimentation, and storytelling into one art form.” — The Major Rager Story
Two Extraordinary Influences
Every great creator has their origin. For Major, it began at home, with a fisherman and a botanist who saw the world in flavour.
A fisherman whose kitchen became a laboratory of bold, ever-changing flavours. Jacob’s love for the ocean translated into dishes as unpredictable as the tide, always fresh, always surprising, and always made with heart. He gave Major his first taste of the unexpected.
A botanist and master of infusions who taught Major that every ingredient carries meaning. From kawakawa to manuka, Anahera instilled a reverence for nature’s balance, the understanding that harmony in a glass begins long before anyone reaches for a bottle.
It would take years for Major to realise that his true calling lay behind a bar, where every pour could carry the memory of the sea, the wisdom of native plants, and the storytelling spirit of a coastal New Zealand childhood.
Explore the Flavours