Still Hooking Crowds After Two Decades
It’s been over 20 years since Whitianga started a local festival in celebration of the local seafood and coastal culture – and with the 21st event taking place on the Whitianga marina waterfront on 19 September, it’s time to reflect on why it’s still one of New Zealand’s most loved regional food and lifestyle events.
Just ask two people who’ve been there since its inception and are still keeping the vibe alive – Linda and Darrell Bird. Linda started on the committee, while Darrell was a stall holder when it was called the Scallop Festival. Two decades later, Linda is the Oceans Festival committee chair (and a highly regarded local real estate agent), while Darrell’s a committee member (and runs the very successful Dive Zone business, which he founded around the time the festival first began).
“Over the past two decades, the festival has become more than just a day of entertainment — it’s a reflection of the Coromandel community itself, bringing together locals, visitors, chefs, artists, families and seafood lovers in a uniquely Kiwi celebration of the ocean,” says Linda.
It’s now evolved into a broader offering, with coast, meats and country. In 2021, it rebranded and moved away from scallops, recognising the state of the fishery and the need to help with the pressure to push for an MPI closure on Coromandel scallops.
Seafood dishes remain on offer – harvested in a local, sustainable way – from local line-caught snapper to mussels and oysters from Coromandel farms, alongside kina sourced from local divers. The festival’s ethos around the environment saw it acknowledged for Best Sustainability Initiative at the 2024 New Zealand Event Awards.’
In 2026, there’ll be a wider offering of foods to reflect the country and western vibe – bbq meats, smoky ribs, alongside local produce and vegetarian options – a dish for everyone.
But what continues to be at the heart of the festival’s success is its strong community focus. Local volunteers, schools, charities, performers, hospitality businesses and seafood suppliers have all played a role in shaping the festival’s identity over the years.
What started as a modest community gathering has steadily evolved into a nationally recognised event, attracting thousands of attendees from across NZ and overseas.
“The thing I’ve always loved is the variety of people attending,” says Linda. “You’ll see families, young people, retirees, visitors from all over the country and locals who’ve been coming since the beginning. Everyone mixes together with lots of laughs. I was thrilled to meet one group who came from Tasmania, who loved the festival so much, they created their own event based on ours.”
The costumes and colourful personalities are also a much-loved tradition.
“There are amazing costumes. People get into the spirit of it. You see sea-inspired costumes, pirate hats, and groups who plan meticulously in advance to dress up together – with best-dressed prizes up for grabs”.
“And the behavior’s incredibly positive and respectful – we’ve got a great relationship with the police and Council, who’ve supported the event all along.”
Across its 20+-year history, the festival has navigated significant challenges. Economic downturns, changing tourism patterns and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic all impacted attendance, planning and operations at various times. Severe weather events and rising event delivery costs also create pressures faced by many regional festivals.
Despite these challenges, the resilience of the Whitianga community and the loyalty of festival goers has helped this event to thrive. Its ability to evolve while staying true to its original values has become one of the key reasons for its longevity.
Today, the Whitianga Oceans Festival remains not only a celebration of great food, music and coastal culture, it’s a celebration of community spirit, sustainability and regional pride. For many attendees it’s become a highlight on the New Zealand events calendar. Make it your tradition and come along Saturday, 19 September 2026.
Buy your tickets now here!
Words by Laurna White, Oceans Festival Event Coordinator
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