Kaikoura Seafest 2009

by Luke Sole // October 12 2009

Kaikoura Seafest is a festival featuring fine food and beverages from Marlborough, Kaikoura, and North Canterbury regions. Held on the first Saturday of October every year, Seafest has been an annual event for the town for the last 15 years. The festival is held in the Takahanga domain, which is arranged with stalls around the outside and a giant marquee in the centre that houses live music for the duration of the day.

Like last year, I left it too long to book accommodation in Kaikoura. So, like last year we had to resort to staying eight kilometres out of town at a camping ground.

After a shuttle ride in to town on Saturday morning we arrived and were handed a Seafest glass for consuming alcohol, which ties around your neck so you don’t lose it (although I did, again). Seafest is very similar to the Hokitika Wild Food Festival, but, is in many ways, just a pissfest. The beers offered include Moa, Green Man, Brew Moon and for the more bogan-inclined, Tui. At five dollars a cup, this is pretty good value for some decent beers. Wine was around the same price per three-quarter cup.

What is interesting is that for a festival based on the natural abundance of the ocean, there was a notable absence of quality seafood. A small plate of crayfish was around twenty dollars and a small plate of fish and chips was seven dollars fifty, despite looking like it came from Big Gary’s.

Under the marquee were Christchurch’s Black Velvet Band and the New Entrants, coincidentally featuring Matt Maguire, former Canta editor. Both bands played well and good times were had as the tent packed out with fellow revellers.

There is a classy aura about Seafest, possibly due to the marketing; however the comparison to Hokitika’s Wild Foods is valid. If drinking all day is your thing (ala Ensoc), and let’s face it, it is most people’s thing, you will probably love Seafest. However, if you are hoping for a fine culinary experience you will probably be disappointed.