I think adapt the stew to pulled,that flavour profile will work. I will follow your lead but use the beer ,herbs from stew recipe when I foil it. Polynesians in their home islands got a lot of low grade meat from Australia & canned stuff.High carb taro,sweet potato lots of coconut not a lot of spice. Seafood. Maori eat lot of lamb, mutton,fish,sweet potato.They love their pork like all those Islands people.Once they get over here they broaden their tastes a bit.I think the stew would be good as well, but flat bread topped with stuff may be easier to eat standing up and milling around and socializing...Do you think something different like pulled and sauced Alpaca would be interesting and special to these people...I'm like you, I look for and like to try different things...No matter what you do, I'm sure it will be awesome...JJ
They do their version of underground cooking for big parties,hangi in moari,umu in Samoan.They complain about Ausssie rocks not being up to scratch .They like basalt or volcanic stuff that dont shatter. Huge pieces of steel,chain,railway line ,rocks heated in the fire until they glow put in the hole covered over with a layer of palm leaves then meat ,potatoes arranged then covered again then dirt on top. Its really a giant steam. Same deal as Hawaii.
In Tongan it is a great compliment to say to a women that you fancy "You are as fat as a pigs liver". I figure they will eat what ever you put in front of them.