News
The 2026 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival took place in Bluff on Saturday with the usual combination of Bluff Oysters, food, beverage, entertainment and music after overcoming several challenges including early doubts about the availability of the Bluff Oyster.
The gates opened at 10.30am allowing those queuing outside to pour onto the site, ready to enjoy their share of the 20,000 Bluff Oysters, succulent southern seafood plus other food offerings and beverages.
As is tradition, at 11am the Bluff Oyster was piped into the venue by the Invercargill Highland Pipe Band before Bluff local Bruce Pagan delivered the Ode to the Oyster and then Festival Chairman John Edminstin declared the festival open and thanked those who had come to support the event.
Later Edminstin said, “thank you to all those who came from near and far and those who bought tickets on the day. I am pleased with the walk-up crowd, there is a good feeling and everything is humming along,” he said.
“We appreciate the support of the crowd, local businesses, my committee and our volunteers,” he said.
The Oyster Opening events saw some great competition with Ricci Grant of Calder’s Oysters winning the Men’s title as he opened 50 Bluff Oysters in a time of 2 minutes 59 seconds. It was Grant’s third win in the competition, the previous victories coming in 2019 and 2021.
Grant said he had “actually been painting fulltime this oyster season, only opening at times for Calder’s.”
After initially saying it was his last time in the competition he was thinking of coming back to defend the title.
Tia Selwyn of Barnes Oysters won the Ladies Open for the second year in a row, opening her 50 Bluff Oysters in 3 minutes 29 seconds.
Four seconds were added to her time for one cut oyster but 3 minutes 33 seconds was good enough to take the win from last year’s runner-up Shana-Rae Reedy of Calder’s Oysters, who also received a penalty, by five seconds.
“I was really nervous beforehand as I thought Shana would be out for redemption after last year.”
Both Grant and Selwyn said the quality of the oysters was better this year than last.
Former multiple champion Keith Lovett was a late entry to the Men’s Competition for the first time in twelve years after stepping away from competition in 2014.
Barnes Oysters reversed last year’s result in the Factory Relay race beating Calder’s while Max Russell of Barnes Oysters won the Daniel Lovett Memorial Trophy for winning the Blindfold Race opening 12 oysters in 1 minute 02 seconds.
The Oyster Eating Competition was as popular as ever with participants from the crowd coming from every corner of New Zealand plus international entrants from China and Scotland.
It was Jennifer Stephens of West Auckland who prevailed in an impressive performance.
It was Stephens’ third visit to the Festival.
“I’ve been picked for the heats before but this is the first time I have won,” she said.
On the main stage the Bluff School Kapa Haka Group, Te Vaka O Te Uki Ou drummers, a Polynesian dance off, Sweet Marie, Helen Henderson, Lachie Hayes and Band Of Bluffies entertained.
RESULTS – 2026 BLUFF OYSTER & FOOD FESTIVAL OYSTER COMPETITIONS
MEN’S OPEN – FRESH OYSTER CHALLENGE CUP (50 Oysters)
1: Ricci Grant (Calder’s Oysters) – 2 minutes 59 seconds
2: O J Abraham (Barnes Oysters) – 3 minutes 14 seconds
3: Max Russell (Barnes Oysters) – 3 minutes 27 seconds
LADIES OPEN – MARINA FISH AND OYSTER CHALLENGE CUP (50 Oysters)
1: Tia Selwyn (Barnes Oysters) – 3 minutes 33 seconds
2: Shana-Rae Reddy (Calder’s Oysters) – 3 minutes 38 seconds
3: Leah Russell (Barnes Oysters) – 3 minutes 50 seconds
DANIEL LOVETT MEMORIAL TROPHY – BLINDFOLD RACE (10 Oysters)
1: Max Russell (Barnes Oysters) – 1 minute 04 seconds
2: Ricci Grant (Calder’s Oysters) – 1 minute 13 seconds
3: Shana-Rae Reddy (Calder’s Oysters) – 1 minute 16 seconds
W E JOHNSON PLATE – FACTORY RELAY (Teams of 4 / 25 Oysters per opener)
1: Barnes Oysters – 6 minutes 20 seconds
(Tia Selwyn, Max Russell, Vic Pearsey, OJ Abraham)
2: Calder’s Oysters – 6 minutes 55 seconds
(Shana-Rae Reedy, Keith Lovett, Tim Sheldon, Ricci Grant)
BLUFF OYSTER & FOOD FESTIVAL – OYSTER EATING (10 Oysters)
WINNER: Jennifer Stephens (West Auckland)