Huhu bugs on the menu at Kai in the Bay

Fancy trying some huhu bugs? How about a weka? Ever heard of titi, or even parengo? All of these delicacies will be on the menu at the inaugural ‘Kai in the Bay’ festival.

The festival, from the gate to the plate, is a celebration of traditional Maori and Wild Food and will be held at Napier’s Perfume Point reserve in Ahuriri on Saturday November 13th 2010.

Conceiving and planning the one-day festival has been a labour of love for organizers Henry Heke and Robert Whaitiri who wanted to create a fusion of Hokitika’s Wild Food Festival and the Kawhia Kai Festival in Waikato while thinking outside of the square.

There will be over fifty original food traders at the festival who will sell a variety of mouth-watering treats including whitebait fritters, pig on the spit and crayfish delights. In addition to tasting the food, learning from the exhibitions and sampling the free food, ‘Kai in the Bay’ will also provide a stage for talented Maori and Pakeha chefs to demonstrate their culinary abilities with some of these largely unknown ingredients.

Heke has a passion for food and educating people about our choices for a good lifestyle. Not only is the festival about showcasing traditional and contemporary food but it’s also about educating people to think about what they put in their mouth.

“Most people don’t realise that traditional Maori food is far healthier than eating fast foods, and if we all ate more like our forefathers, basic food from the land and the sea, we wouldn’t have issues like diabetes and heart disease,” said Heke.

Health organisations will be involved in the festival to encourage people to think about their lifestyle choices. Free testing for diabetes will be available, as well as displays by One Heart Many Lives. Both diabetes and heart disease are prevalent amongst Maori.

Patron for ‘Kai in the Bay’ is former All Black captain Taine Randell who says the festival is a ‘fantastic concept’. Randell is especially enthusiastic about the focus on education and health.

“Food is medicine and the more we can eat fresh and nutritious food, the less health problems we will have in the future,” says Randell.

In keeping with a traditional Maori feast, there will be entertainment during the day to enjoy including kapa haka groups and main acts to be announced soon.

‘Kai in the Bay’ is an alcohol and smoke free festival and open for the whole family to enjoy. Children under the age of 16 are free. Tickets for ‘Kai in the Bay’ are $15 for adults and are on sale nationwide through www.ticketmaster.co.nz. Tickets will also be sold through local outlets in the Bay including East Pier.

Event manager Christine Shanahan hopes the demand for tickets will be high and that eventually ‘Kai in the Bay’ will draw international tourists to New Zealand every November.

“This festival is the only opportunity in the Bay to taste unique treasured foods in a stunning location. It promises to be a special celebration bringing together people from different walks of life, an educational opportunity and a chance to taste yummy kai, infused with quality New Zealand entertainment. Importantly, it’s up to us to retain the cultures and customs of our forefathers, otherwise traditional food will become a myth.” says Shanahan.

There are still a few spaces for local chefs to sell food and exhibit at the festival. Wannabe chefs should review the website www.kaiinthebay.co.nz for more information.

Opportunities to sponsor the festival are still open. Join our proud sponsors Radio Network, Hawkes Bay Today, City of Napier, Designstudio, Number 9 Marketing + Design, Neocom and Silverfern Farms. Head to www.kaiinthebay.co.nz for more details.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
HE PATAKA HAUORA TRUST

The organisation responsible for the event is He Pataka Hauora Trust, a niche provider of administration services to charitable events in Hawke’s Bay with a health focus. It recently formed in order to provide contract and financial management services for the Kai in the Bay Maori and Wild Food Festival and also the Battle for Life Boxing Match. The trustees are Lee Grace (Ngati Porou) who has an accountancy background, Shona Jones (Ngati Kahungunu) who brings a law and policy background and Bayden Barber (Ngati Kahungunu) who has strong health sector experience. In its first year, the Trust will promote diabetes awareness.

WEBSITE

www.kaiinthebay.co.nz