It’s a Kiwi Classic, but what’s the story behind Hokey Pokey Ice Cream?

When you think of iconic New Zealand foods, Hokey Pokey ice cream is right up there with fish and chips on the beach or a good meat pie at the rugby. This golden, crunchy-sweet treat swirled into creamy golden syrup ice cream is more than just a dessert - it’s a piece of Kiwi culture. But how did it come to be New Zealand’s unofficial national ice cream flavour?

So what exactly is Hokey Pokey?

Strictly speaking Hokey Pokey itself is not unique to New Zealand. It is in fact small pieces of honeycomb toffee made from sugar, golden syrup, and baking soda. You can find honeycomb toffee all around the world. What is uniquely Kiwi is the name ‘Hokey Pokey’ and its association with ice cream. There’s also a huge cultural nostalgia about Hokey Pokey - most Kiwis have grown up eating Hokey Pokey in some form, most often in ice cream!

Origins in the 1950s

The exact origin of Hokey Pokey ice cream is a bit fuzzy, but it’s widely agreed that it was popularised by Tip Top, a New Zealand ice cream company founded in 1936.  In the 1950s, Tip Top began experimenting with adding toffee pieces to their vanilla ice cream. While this was a big hit, it wasn’t until the 1980’s that Tip Top decided to use small balls of honeycomb, or Hokey Pokey instead. The combination of crunchy toffee and smooth ice cream struck a nostalgic chord with locals and quickly became a best-seller.

At a time when imported flavours were rare and refrigeration was still becoming widespread in households, Hokey Pokey was an affordable indulgence that felt extra special. It became the second most popular ice cream flavour in New Zealand, just behind vanilla—and for many, it was the flavour to have at the local dairy or beachside shop.

The Name Game

“Hokey Pokey” itself is a term with mysterious origins. Some trace it back to 19th-century English street vendors selling honeycomb toffee, using chants like “Hokey pokey, penny a lump!” Others say it comes from an Italian phrase—“oh che poco,” meaning “oh how little”—used by ice cream vendors in the early 1900s.

Whatever the origin, in New Zealand the term stuck and it became synonymous with the honeycomb treat we know today.

A Global and Local Favourite

Hokey Pokey ice cream remains a New Zealand treasure. It is more than a dessert - it’s a slice of Kiwi identity. It represents nostalgia, simplicity and local creativity. Whether enjoyed on a hot summer day or as a late-night scoop at home, it’s a taste of New Zealand’s sweet side.

At PURE we hand make our Hokey Pokey using the very best, all-natural ingredients. True to the origins of the ice cream, we then swirl chunks through a premium golden syrup ice cream. The result – a truly mouth-watering, all-natural and uniquely Kiwi treat.