Speech
Wildfoods Festival
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the afternoon (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Mark Melsop, Chair of the Organising Business Unit; Wildfoods icon Claire Bryant; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
Thank you for inviting me and my wife Susan to attend the 20th Wildfoods Festival here in Hokitika.
This is the last event we are attending as a part of a five day visit to the West Coast. And what a way to end a visit to one of New Zealand’s truly remarkable and unique regions, wedged in between the forbidding Tasman Sea and the majestic Southern Alps.
To use a culinary theme, if Karamea could be described our entrée, Westport as our soup, Greymouth as our main course, it seems fitting that we have left the best meal of all, our dessert—Hokitika and the Wildfoods Festival—to last.
From small beginnings in 1990 to mark Hokitika’s 125th jubilee, the Festival has grown to become an iconic event that has developed a national and international reputation.
The food—pikelets made from colostrum to deep fried huhu grubs and grasshoppers—takes centre stage, but the Festival is also an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to examine the best of local crafts and just enjoy the entertainment and have some fun.
It is yet another example of innovation and outside-of-the-box thinking that Kiwis bring to business and to having fun. It’s not surprising then that it has twice won New Zealand tourism awards.
And so on this, the 20th Wildfoods Festival, it seems appropriate to acknowledge again, Claire Bryant, who had the original idea for the festival.
So congratulations to Claire and congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard to bring this event to fruition. And to everyone enjoying the festival—enjoy the music, enjoy the entertainment and most of all, enjoy the food!
And on that note, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.