Auckland to host first ever seafood festival

The Auckland Seafood Festival on Saturday September 30th and Sunday October 1st will be the first of its kind in the region. Sanford, one of New Zealand’s largest fish exporters, initiated the Festival that will be a celebration and educational experience for Aucklanders. The event will showcase the huge array of seafood available in the Hauraki Gulf and surrounding New Zealand waters.

Working in collaboration with Auckland City Council, Heart of the City and Rotary Club of Auckland East, the Auckland Seafood Festival will be a feast for all the senses. Positioned at the Auckland Fish Market in the Western Reclamation, the heart of the soon to be redeveloped Tank Farm, all profits from the Festival will go to charities that benefit fishermen and sea search & rescue organisations.

Three separate Festival areas will guarantee something for everyone. The Street Party (on the closed Jellicoe Street area in front of the Auckland Fish Market) will offer patrons popular entertainment, a licensed area and roaming entertainers. The highlight for patrons will be the seafood offerings and wine/beer matching that promises a new appreciation for the seafood found in New Zealand waters. Access to the Street Party is $20.

The free family area in the courtyard of the Auckland Fish Market off Daldy Street will offer educational insights. Extending into the auction rooms and huge chiller normally used each day for the dawn fish auction, children and adults alike will be introduced and informed of the many and varied seafood species available in our waters. This area will showcase multicultural performances and practical demonstrations of seafood handling as well as culinary delights to devour.

The third area of the Auckland Seafood Festival is the VIP Lounge. From just $500 for a table of ten the exclusive roof top area will enable guests to provide corporate hospitality or celebrate a special occasion. Top quality entertainment and demonstrations by well-known chefs will showcase many exquisite seafood offerings. Among other great offers those in the VIP Lounge will have access to all other areas of the Festival and the exclusive opportunity for hands-on seafood cooking classes in the Auckland Fishmarket’s Seafood School.

To open the first ever Auckland Seafood Festival on Saturday September 30th there will be a ‘Blessing of the Fleet’ at the waters edge between Wynyard Wharf and Halsey St Wharf at 10am. Promising to be a truly spectacular and unique experience for spectators The Blessing of the Fleet will see Auckland’s many and varied commercial fishing vessels gather together on the harbour to be blessed for the start of the New Fishing Year (October 1st). The boats will be blessed by representatives of many religious denominations.

The Auckland Seafood Festival is sure to be added to Auckland’s growing list of iconic events. The event management of the Auckland Seafood Festival has been contracted to Award winning consultancy, empire PR and Events.

What: Auckland Seafood Festival - A celebration of the Seafood found in the Hauraki Gulf and surrounding New Zealand waters.
Where: Auckland Fish Market, Jellicoe Street, Western Viaduct, Auckland Central
When: Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October, 2006
Time: 11am – 6pm Saturday and Sunday
Blessing of the Fleet 10am Saturday
How much: Street Party - $20 Tickets available from Ticketmaster (excl booking fee) or at the gate
(0800 111 999 or www.ticketmaster.co.nz),
VIP Lounge – From $500/table for 10 (call 09 575 0677 or email ianmwilletts@xtra.co.nz for more information and to book tickets)

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