PR buffs seize tasty puff to put city on culinary map

A rare, giant puffball is the latest weapon in Rotorua's arsenal to get Aucklanders to take short breaks in the city.

The Rotorua Tourism Committee has identified Auckland as its key domestic market and has been running promotions to convince those north of the Bombay Hills that Rotorua has urban attractions such as good coffee and exciting cuisine as well as great lakes, forests and excellent adventure tourism.

A giant puffball, found only on Mokoia Island and a handful of Northern Hemisphere countries, is the latest attraction.

Calvatia gigantea will feature on the menu at Wai Ora Spa Resort's Mokoia Restaurant and is known by local Maori as pukerau. It can grow as large as 150cm, weighing up to 20kg, and has a texture similar to marshmallow.

Wai Ora chief executive Bryan Hughes said the restaurant would be serving an array of dishes inspired by pukerau in the months ahead.

"It has a distinct and delicate flavour, similar to a truffle," Mr Hughes said.

As well as being confined to Mokoia Island, North America and some parts of Europe, pukerau only fruits between January and March and can only be eaten for a short time.

"When the Pukerau is young, it's white and fleshy and ready to be eaten. But once this large mushroom starts to mature, it creates spores and changes to a yellow/brown colour. Once it's reached this stage of decomposition it is dangerous to eat. So this makes our exclusive menu over the next few months all the more special."

A press release about this rare culinary treat has been sent out to tourism and food media as part of an ongoing campaign by Destination Rotorua Tourism.

Acting general manager Tania Bui said food and spa promotions at Auckland's No1 Queen St Cafe had been very successful, including cooking demonstrations by Mokoia Restaurant chefs and Charles Royal and complementary spa treatments by Wai Ora Spa.

"We have had people coming out of their offices and queuing for some of these things. You cannot put a value on the media exposure we have had."

Other promotions have included releases about the range of markets on offer and the suitability of Rotorua as a venue for stag and hen parties, weddings and honeymoons.

"We have made huge, positive steps in the last 6-8 months through our public relations programme, website and the No1 Queen St cafe."