Media information 22 November, 2010

Māori flavour extends to décor for 2011 Kāwhia Kai Festival

Traditional Maori village décor including fences made from Manuka and a carved Waharoa gateway will add to the unique Māori flavours for the 10,000 visitors expected for the 2011 Kai Festival.

Being held on Saturday, February 5 as part of the nation’s Waitangi Day celebrations, next year’s Festival is expecting more than 25 stalls offering traditional Māori food as well as more than 20 displaying traditional Māori arts & crafts such as weaving, carving and tattooing, says Festival organiser Hinga Whiu.

“While hāngi is always the big favourite, visitors come from all over the country to sample other traditional Māori kai such as Kōki (shark liver pate) and Kānga Wai/Pirau (fermented corn),” says Mrs. Whiu.

“Another hot favourite is ‘fry bread’ which is a sort of fried donut – it’s not traditional kai but it’s a more contemporary dish on the Māori menu!”

Held on Ōmiti Reserve by the shores of the tranquil Kāwhia Harbour on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, the Festival is a unique celebration of Māori cuisine and is rated by The Lonely Planet Travel Guide as one of the top ten must see Māori experiences for visitors to visit.

In between sampling delicacies such as Toroi (marinated mussels and pūhā), Creamed Pāua and Kina, Īnanga (Whitebait patties), Pūhā and pork spring rolls, and Pāwhara (smoked fish and eel), visitors can enjoy a full-day of entertainment from leading New Zealand musicians and kapa haka groups.

Attracting New Zealanders of all ages and backgrounds, the Department of Conservation is once again having a strong presence at the Festival with rare brown Kiwi to view and a strong conservation message about the unique flora and fauna of Aotearoa.

The Festival will open at 9am on Saturday, February 5, with a mihi whakatau welcome and blessing.

Gate entry will be $5 for adults and children over 5, while a family pass for two adults and up to four children will cost $15.

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