A small school with big dreams grew a study of the abundant green lipped mussels at Mitimiti into an annual festival celebrating life on the remote north Hokianga west coast.
The Kutai Festival began in 2007 after students at tiny Matihetihe School had to produce a kutai (mussel) dish as part of a scientific study on the local mussels.
The tastes were so sensational they decided to sell their food as a fundraiser, and in turn that proved so popular it evolved into the fabulous day of celebration, food and, of course, kutai, Te Kura o Matihetihe principal Katarina Manuel said.
"Mitimiti has the tastiest kutai in the world.
"We only have a small school with a roll of 28 students. We are a small school, with big dreams," Ms Manuel said.