Sustainability of scallops a priority for Seafood Festival

Set against the stunning backdrop of the Whitianga Harbour, the festival savours a range of New Zealand caught seafood, cooked in a myriad of different ways by renowned chefs, stall holders and local community groups. Complemented with an array of local and New Zealand beverages, festival goers will continue to be entertained by live bands, buskers, seafood cooking classes and more. There will be an entertaining line up of celebrity chefs on the main cooking stage and seven live bands across the main and acoustic stages.

The sustainability of scallops locally and nationally is a priority for Whitianga Scallop Festival Inc. This community event is in its sixteenth year and the festival has grown into one of New Zealand’s iconic seafood/kaimoana, celebrations. And we do not expect that to change. We hope our valued followers will embrace our reason for change and join us once again for what promises to be another fantastic event set against Whitianga’s stunning Harbour.

Chairperson Scallop Festival Trust, Linda Bird

Support for change of name and variety of seafood on offer

The organisers have evolved the festival branding to recognise the scallop we love and the need to now champion its cause, and the New Zealand caught seafood that will instead be enjoyed at this year’s Whitianga Oceans Festival – From Dock to Dish.

The drivers behind the seeking of the rāhui over the greater Mercury Bay are Mercury Bay local Iwi – Ngati Hei, Opito Bay Ratepayers Association as well as LegaSea. All of these parties are supportive of how the Whitianga Scallop Festival Incorporated Society has evolved.

Whitianga Scallop Festival organisers encourage support for temporary closure of coast to harvest scallops

The Whitianga Scallop Festival encourage submissions in support of the “Proposed temporary closure of the eastern Coromandel coast to the harvest of scallops”. Those interested in making a submission can email the Ministry of Primary Industries. 

Tickets and information about Whitianga Oceans Festival – From Dock to Dish.

See the related link below to our event pages.