Sheeps' testicles on offer for Dame Silvia

Scorpions, seagulls, grasshoppers and sheeps' testicles on offer for Dame Silvia

Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright gets an opportunity to taste sheep's eyes or testicles, seagull legs, scorpions, huhu grubs, worms and grasshoppers at the 14th Hokitika Wildfoods Festival on Saturday.

Dame Silvia will open the 14th annual festival on Saturday and will get the chance to sample unusual Fear Factor-style wildwoods from 90 stalls.

More than 21,000 people are expected to set a record attendance making the event the biggest special food festival of its kind in New Zealand.

``Dame Silvia will be able to experience first hand the feral fodder festival,'' organiser Mike Keenan said today. ``The food is largely sourced in the wild and the event is consequently endorsed by the Heart Foundation.''

The festival draws in more than $2 million to the local community. Hokitika, the Westland dairy centre and greenstone capital of New Zealand, has a population of 3300.

The Saturday forecast for Hokitika is for fine weather which may significantly increase crowd numbers.

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