Waitara's John Tipene has added to his range of hangi cookers by building a super-sized version.

A $25,000 industrial-sized kai cooker designed to feed an army is the latest addition to a Waitara man's business venture.

John Tipene, the brains behind the Te Kohatu Hangi cooker, is in the throes of finishing off the construction of much larger model, which is powered by two, 20kg gas bottles.

The super-sized cooker even comes with its own trailer and lifting arm to assist with taking the lid off and on and getting the food baskets out.

ANDY JACKSON/Stuff.co.nz John Tipene from Waitara talks about the worldwide demand for his invention, the Te Kohatu Hangi cooker.

A work station, complete with chopping board, will also be added.

"It's a concept I've had ever since I started. We built the whole thing from scratch, the trailer and everything," Tipene said.

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It took about a month for Tipene and his four employees to build the big hangi cooker, which is able to cater for up to 750 people.

Tipene sold the first unit last month and plans on making at least 11 more of the same design this year.

But buyers will need big wallets - Tipene said he hoped to sell the cookers at $25,000 each.

This latest development comes off the back of what has proved a very successful 12 months for the businessman.

In the last two months of 2015, he sold 350 of his 100 litre cookers, which retail at $899 each, and hopes to sell at least 1000 more this year.

The stainless steel invention uses gas heated river stones to cook the food, while the fat and juices that drip on to the hot rocks produces a steam which infuses the meat and vegetables with the distinctive hangi-like flavour.

After launching his business in 2014, Tipene said he had been swamped with orders from around New Zealand and across the world.

Australia is one of his biggest markets and Tipene said he sent about 48 units on average every month to destinations across the ditch.

"Our brand in Australia is just huge. Everyone's talking about it over there," he said.

He said the development of his commercial cooker opened up a different pool of customers and was part of his wider strategy to build his venture into something iwi considered as a future investment opportunity.