Oyster festival going ahead after three-year break
Approval has been given to demolish a dangerous building in Bluff, meaning the town’s popular oyster and food festival can go ahead in May.
It will be the first time the festival, which attracts 4000 people, has been held in three years.
It was canned in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and again in 2023 due to the former hotel adjacent to the site having a dangerous building notice on it.
Festival committee member Kylie Fowler said the Invercargill City Council and Heritage New Zealand had now given approval to demolish the former Club Hotel building, meaning the festival would go ahead on May 25.
The building demolition would take about a month, she said.
Fowler was confident the festival could be organised in the time frame.
“It’s going ahead,” she said.
“It has to go ahead, we need it to go ahead. Bluff and Invercargill need it.“
The event gave a boost to the economies of both towns and boosted the mood of people in Bluff, she said.
“We showcase our little town.” Tickets would go on sale next week, Fowler said.
Graeme Wright, manager of Barnes Wild Bluff Oysters, welcomed news the festival would go ahead this year. “Excellent.”
The Bluff oyster season began on March 1, but bad weather had often kept its six boats from venturing out onto Foveaux Strait, Wright said.
“Most of our boats have only had four or five days out [in two weeks].”
The bulk of the oysters caught had been sold locally, with a limited supply heading north.
“Demand is strong ... all of our major distributors have had oysters but just not in the numbers they would like.
“We haven’t been able to string two days together with the weather, unfortunately.”