Whitianga Oceans Festival 2024: Seafood event celebrates successful run after awards win

The Whitianga Oceans Festival attracted about 2500 people over the weekend.

Hot on the heels of its recent NZ Event Awards win, the Whitianga Oceans Festival celebrated another success last weekend.

The festival won the event award in the category best sustainability initiative in August and attracted more than 2500 people to the Coromandel town last Saturday for a taste of local cuisine and live entertainment.

Festival marketing manager Clare Tod said the idea for the festival came from a Destination Coromandel staff member who wanted to create an event to draw people to the eastern seaboard in the shoulder periods and thought seafood could help captivate people’s attention.

“He was right, he gathered a small group of keen locals together to form a committee and the event was born in 2005,” Tod said.

“Once established, Destination Coromandel bowed out, and the organisation and running of the event has continued with keen locals who volunteer their time to make this event happen.

“All coming from a desire to promote Whitianga and recognising the importance of bringing income earning opportunities to the region in the quieter... season.”

Tod said while Covid-19 had a large impact with the festival being cancelled between 2020 and 2022, this year’s running marked a successful day for vendors and community groups after organisers revived the festival in 2023.

The event is now overseen by a voluntary Mercury Bay committee and delivered by local event contractors.

Chairperson for the festival, Linda Bird said it was a good day.

“The water held out, there [were] no dramas, people had lots of fun; it was a good vibe.”

Planning for this year’s event began a year in advance with months of behind-the-scenes preparations.

“Its economic impact on the Mercury Bay region is over $1 million,” Tod said.

“The event fills accommodation beds, restaurants, cafes and bars and gets the retail tills ringing; the festival also incorporates many community groups providing a service to the festival or having a food stall, raising much-needed funds.”

Overall, the event would celebrate “pure Coromandel goodness”, Tod said, and had been named one of New Zealand’s iconic food and wine festivals.

“It features Kiwi bands playing the hits people know and love, entertainers including stilt walkers and street performers alongside quirky interactive games, incorporating a selection of tasty dishes matched with refreshing beverages.”

Highlights of the 2024 programme included Mullet Man and Mim, nine musical performances over two stages, including several local artists, and headline act the Jordan Luck Band.

Tod said the 2024 event featured a new addition of a VIP section, the Captain’s Table.

“It was a very popular and well received addition with 100 VIPs indulging in the festival and being treated to two cooking demonstrations and tasty food from local restaurant Blue Ginger.”