Bluff Oyster Festival Returns to Thrill Crowds

Bluff Oyster Festival returns after a two-year hiatus, drawing large crowds.
New champions crowned in Oyster Opening Events amid festive atmosphere.
Diverse entertainment lineup adds to the festival’s appeal.

The Bluff Oyster & Food Festival is back and the popularity of the event certainly has not waned since it was last held in 2021.

After two years of cancellations, the first due to covid restrictions and the second due to safety concerns regarding a building alongside the site, a cold day did not deter the crowd who formed a lengthy queue well before the gates opened at 10.30am.

The iconic Bluff Oyster made its entrance at 11am as it was piped onto the site by the Invercargill Highland Pipe Band. Former Bluff Mayor Bruce Pagan then recited the Ode To The Oyster and Festival Chairman John Edminstin welcomed the crowd and declared the festival open.

As the crowd settled in to enjoy the 20,000 Bluff Oysters plus other varieties of seafood as well as other food offerings and all the entertainment on site, Edminstin said, “I’m happy and relieved that we are on the go again. It is great to see the crowd coming through the gate all rugged up. We are hoping for a great day.”

He also praised his committee and volunteers. “Despite not having the festival for two years, they stayed together. We have a great team of volunteers.”

The iconic Oyster events attracted a big crowd and they witnessed two new champions in the Oyster Opening Events. Xavier Fife of Calders Oysters won the Men’s Open, after opening 50 oysters in a time of 3 minutes 9 seconds while Peg Bishop won the Women’s Open getting through 50 oysters in 3 minutes 34 seconds.

The crowds stretch down the main street of Bluff on Saturday morning as they wait for the gates to open for the 2024 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival in Bluff. Photo: supplied

Fife has been opening oysters for six years and finished third in the event in 2021. “It’s pretty cool, very good,” he said after the win. Shannon Te Kira of Ngai Tahu Fisheries was second and reigning champion, Ricci Grant of Barnes Oysters third.

Bishop said it was a blessing to do what she always wanted to do but also acknowledged Vic Pearsey who won the last ten titles straight but did not compete in the open this year. Bishop (68) began opening oysters at Talleys in Motueka when she was 17-years-old. Here Witehira of Barnes Oysters was second and Natasha Leigh of Ngai Tahu third.

Team Barnes won the Factory Relay and Ricci Grant the Blindfold Race and Aaron of Barnes Oysters the Novice Race.

Phoebe of Auckland won the Oyster Eating Final with competitors from all parts of the world taking part including one from China who made the final.

On the entertainment stage the large crowd enjoyed a range of entertainment from the Mapu-Kuki-Airani Rarotongan drummers, the Bluff School Kapa Haka group, SIT Sounz, comprising of music students from the School of Contemporary Music at SIT, In The Pocket, a Polynesian dance off, singer-songwriter Jackie Bristow, 2018 Southland Entertainer of the Year Lachie Hayes and Dunedin band Sea .

RESULTS 2024 BLUFF OYSTER & FOOD FESTIVAL OYSTER COMPETITIONS

NGAI TAHU SEAFOOD PRODUCTS NOVICE CUP COMPETITION (50 Oysters)

1: Aaron (Barnes Oysters) – 4 minutes 34 seconds

2: Legion Henry (Calders Oysters) – 4 minutes 35 seconds

3: Tia Selwyn (Barnes Oysters) – 4 minutes 39 seconds

DANIEL LOVETT MEMORIAL TROPHY BLINDFOLD RACE (20 Oysters)

1: Ricci Grant (Barnes Oysters) – 3 minutes 00 seconds

2: Here Witehira (Barnes Oysters) – 3 minutes 25 seconds

3: Peg Bishop (Barnes Oysters) – 5 minutes 35 seconds

MARINA FISH & OYSTER CHALLENGE LADIES OPEN (50 Oysters)

1: Peg Bishop (Barnes Oysters) 3 minutes 34 seconds

2: Here Witehira (Barnes Oysters) 4 minutes 09 seconds