Reggae rocks 2013 Kāwhia Kai Festival entertainment

Media Release 14 January, 2013

Reggae rocks 2013 Kāwhia Kai Festival entertainment

Brisbane-based reggae band Darky Roots are crossing the ditch to be the headline act in this year’s Kāwhia Kai Festival being held on Saturday, February 2 to celebrate Waitangi Day.

While most of the members of the eight-piece band are of New Zealand descent – it will be the first time that its Australian members will have a chance to experience traditional Māori culture, says the band’s leader, Joshua Hillman.

“Having spent most of my adult life in Australia, I’m really looking forward to performing at the Kai Festival as well as seeing and hearing kapahaka groups,” says Joshua who is of Tūhoe descent.

“I’m keen to sample all the kai moana (seafood) that we can’t get here. I’d even like to try kānga Pirau (fermented corn) – my father always used to talk about it being a real delicacy – and that’s a dish we certainly can’t get in Oz!”

The MC will be Māori TV personality Kōtuku Tibble who will introduce a full-day’s entertainment including kapa-haka groups Ngāti Māhanga Whānui who are based in Hamilton and Whatawhata, Te Haona Kaha who are based in Pirongia and Te Awamutu, and Te Roopu Kapahaka o Nōera who are made up of students from Nawton Primary School and are a big crowd favourite.

The rock bands performing include local Kāwhia groups Tukutuku, as well as Holly & The Blue Benders who will also feature as guest artist (world renowned) French harmonica player Christelle Berthon and Regan Campbell who was the former lead guitarist with Cornerstone Roots.

Meanwhile, headline act Darky Roots is a Brisbane-based reggae band that formed in 2008 and has now evolved into an eight-piece band with a distinct sunshine roots reggae sound. The band has toured both Australia and New Zealand.

While all these groups will be performing to the approximately seven thousand visitors expect to come to the Festival to sample traditional and contemporary Māori kai being offered from some 25 food stalls.

Four local marae will be creating a mega-hāngi feast served in traditional kono – baskets of woven flax, says Festival organiser Hinga Whiu.

“The Kai Festival is a place where all New Zealanders can come and sample hāngi and celebrate Waitangi Day,” says Hinga.

“Each year, we prepare more hāngi – and each year it still all sells out!”

As well as traditional hāngi cooked in an earth oven over hot stones, visitors can enjoy sample other traditional and contemporary Māori kai such as Toroi (Marinated mussels and pūhā), Creamed Pāua and Kina, Īnanga (Whitebait patties), Kānga Wai/Pirau (Fermented corn), Pūhā and pork spring rolls, Pāwhara (Smoked fish and eel) as well as the local Waikato delicacy - Kōkī (Shark liver pate).

Held on Ōmiti Park reserve on the shores of Kāwhia Harbour on the West Coast of New Zealand’s North Island, the Festival offers more than just food with legendary Māori hospitality, entertainment as well as arts & crafts provided throughout the one-day Festival.
Even the Festival’s venue is designed along the lines of a traditional Māori village. Visitors enter through a carved waharoa (gateway) – and the whole site is surrounded by fences made from manuka.
Attracting New Zealanders and international visitors of all ages and backgrounds, gate entry will be $10 for adults, and $2 for those 12 years and under.

Click here to view: 2013 Kai_Fest_entertainment_rundown.pdf

ENDS

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