Wild food with an Asian flavour

Kiwi cuisine with an international flavour is the main ingredient of this year's Hokitika Wild Foods Festival on March 10.

Pickled walnut, smoked eel and wild pork sushi matched with locally grown wasabi are some of the new dishes available this year.

Festival organiser Mike Keenan says these foods will give the festival a slightly Asian flavour while retaining a wild connection.

Other new dishes include beef brain fritters, stinging nettle soup, wild venison kebabs and snails in sauce. Old-time favourites such as earthworms and mountain oysters will also be available.

Festival tickets cost $12.50 and are available from Postie Plus and the Westland District Council.