Kaimoana fest returns

Maketu's Kaimoana Festival draws crowds from all over the Bay of Plenty. Photo / File

Maketu will host its ninth annual Maketu Rotary Kaimoana Festival on February 6, 2016.

The Maketu Kaimoana Festival is known for its family-friendly picnic atmosphere, as well as for having a high calibre of performers, both regional and national.

After a last minute change of venue last year, the festival is returning to its home at Maketu Sports Ground for 2016, a decision that is strongly supported by the majority of locals to keep a Maketu flavour.

The Kaimoana Festival is the major fundraiser for Maketu Rotary, and over the years of the festival, the event has contributed about $90,000 for Maketu community projects that include supporting the marae, schools, the local surf club, fire brigade, coastguard, youth projects and local conservation projects.

Waitangi Day's feature artist is 60s and 70s rock star Shane, singer of the award winning 1969 hit St Paul.

Shane continues to perform with other big artists from the 60s and 70s, such as Suzanne Donaldson and Ray Woolf, to name a few. He will be supported at the Kaimoana Festival by band Shadz.

Other artists are still being confirmed, and will include some of the local favourites as well as acts from Rotorua, Whakatane and Tauranga.

Maketu's festival promises a wider range of food vendors than ever before as well as variety of wines and beers to cater for the 2000 people who attend every year.

Kaimoana will include a wide range of seafood dishes from registered food vendors with Maketu Pies and their seafood treats, scallops, fish sandwiches, paua fritters, mussels, seafood chowder.

There will also be a select range of craft stalls from local crafts people and artists.

-Tickets are available at www.eventfinda.co.nz/2016/kaimoana-seafood-festival/maketu.