A large contingent of Canterbury gourmands and stallholders took a breather from the post-earthquake clean-up in Christchurch to join in the stomach-challenging fun at the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival on Saturday March 12.

“It was great to see them here and we made sure they had a big welcome,” festival organiser Mike Keenan said.

A large contingent of Canterbury gourmands and stallholders took a breather from the post-earthquake clean-up in Christchurch to join in the stomach-challenging fun at the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival on Saturday March 12.

“It was great to see them here and we made sure they had a big welcome,” festival organiser Mike Keenan said.

About 10,000 people from all over the country descended on tiny 3,400-population Hokitika on the West Coast of the South Island for the annual event.

Attending the festival – now in its 22nd year – has become a traditional rite for students. Festival organisers donated 300 tickets free to the student army that has been cleaning up Christchurch streets and properties since the earthquake on 22 February. The Farmy Army was also sent 200 free tickets in appreciation of their efforts.

“Our stallholders love to chat with the customers and, on the day, if they found out it was a member of the clean-up army they were serving, they’d give them a sample for free,” Mr Keenan said.

While a few stallholders from Christchurch had to pull out of the event, others had their best day ever, including Nico Fini who returned from Waiheke Island where he has taken his family since the earthquake.

Mr Fini, whose Urban Escargot stall has been at the event for 17 years, said people kept coming back for more of his famous lamb shanks, snails imported from Burgundy, and “Viagra” cookies.

“I have to make this my last year at the festival now I’ve moved north, but I so enjoy being here I would like to find a way to bring my stall back again without it costing too much.”

Another stallholder from Christchurch, Robyn Perkins, was an energetic sight, pedalling a stationary bicycle to power her fruit smoothie blender. She said, “It was touch and go but we couldn’t stay away from the Hokitika festival.”

Further information: http://www.wildfoods.co.nz/