Oyster Festival Matakana: For the best shucks in town

Reeling in some of the area’s finest purveyors is the third edition of the annual Oyster Festival Matakana, returning this year for one day only—Sunday, 6 October.

The day of festivity marks the first catch from the birthplace of oyster farming in New Zealand and sees the farming community come together for a day of face-to-face feasting with seafood lovers.

This year’s event will feature a buffet of bivalves from local farms Bio Marine, Mahurangi Oysters, and Orata Marine Oysters.

All this will be paired with a line-up of local beverages and produce, such as 8 Wired Brewery, Matakana Smokehose, Sawmill Brewery, and Brick Bay Winery, making it an ideal day out for the family, with live music, cooking demonstrations, and an all-day shucking competition.

The festival was founded by Matakana locals Bianca Howlett and Kate Ross to highlight the best the region has to offer.

Howlett says she is looking forward to the festival’s biggest and best year to date and the introduction of a new seaside venue.

“We’re chuffed to be bringing the festival back, and as a celebration that’s all about the greatness of the Mahurangi Harbour, having a stunning waterside location really is the pearl on top.”

Owner/operators Andrew and Lisa Hay of Mahurangi Oysters have been part of the festival since the first day, and with a family history in oyster farming that began in 1991, they pride themselves on knowing their production inside and out.

“We love bringing a taster of our unspoilt corner of the Mahurangi Harbour to the Oyster Festival—there’s nothing quite like sharing the magic of fresh oysters with fanatics and converting a few new fans along the way,” Lisa Hay said.