Maketu is set to host its ninth annual kaimoana festival early next year.
The Maketu Rotary Kaimoana Festival, to be held on Waitangi Day, February 6, is known for its family-friendly picnic atmosphere.
After a last-minute change of venue last year, the festival was set to return to its homeat Maketu Sports Ground for 2016.
The festival was the major fundraiser for Maketu Rotary, and over the years the event had contributed about $90,000 in total for community projects, which included supporting the marae, schools, the local surf club, fire brigade, Coastguard, youth projects and local conservation projects.
The feature artist would be 60s and 70s rock star Shane, singer of the award-winning 1969 hit Saint Paul.
Shane continued to perform with other big artists from the 60s and 70s, such as Suzanne Donaldson, Ray Columbus and Ray Woolf. He would be supported at the Kaimoana Festival by band Shadz.
Other artists were still being confirmed, and would include local favourites as well as acts from Tauranga, Whakatane and Rotorua.
The festival would feature a wider range of food vendors as well as a variety of wines and beers to cater for the 2000 people who were expected to attend.
Kaimoana this year included a wide range of seafood dishes from registered food vendors such as scallops, fish sandwiches, paua fritters, mussels and seafood chowder.
There would also be a select range of craft stalls from local crafts people and artists.
Tickets were available at www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/
