No stopping a whitebait fancier on the day

Getting into the whitebait theme are Haast Playgroup children (from left) Jessica Todd (3) and...
Getting into the whitebait theme are Haast Playgroup children (from left) Jessica Todd (3) and twins Scott and Tessa Norton (4). Photos by Lucy Ibbotson.
The lure of West Coast whitebait proved a powerful promotional tool despite the persistent rain that fell during the town's Haast Whitebait Cook-off Challenge and Family Fun Day on Saturday, with dozens of Haast residents and tourists supporting the inaugural event.

Organised by the Haast Promotions Group and held at the Heartland World Heritage Hotel, the day was part of the broader West Coast Whitebait Festival, which is being run for the first time this year as part of the Real New Zealand Festival.

Children from the Haast Playgroup and Haast Primary School paraded in whitebait-themed costumes, whitebait fritters were made on site and stalls, a chocolate wheel and bouncy castle also featured.

Judges in the inaugural Haast Whitebait Cook-off Challenge and Family Fun Day on Saturday (from...
Judges in the inaugural Haast Whitebait Cook-off Challenge and Family Fun Day on Saturday (from left) Kerry Eggeling, of Haast, Dominic Moran, of Christchurch, Mary Sturgeon, of Greymouth, Carl Baker, of Haast, and John Sturgeon, of Greymouth.
The cook-off, which involved whitebait patty and menu challenge categories for children and adults.

The day concluded with an evening meal, featuring guest speaker John Sturgeon, of Greymouth, a past All Blacks manager and immediate past-president of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Event co-organiser Moana Kerr said the day was about "putting Haast on the map" and getting the community "working together".

She hoped the event could become an annual highlight on the West Coast calendar.

The group had hoped to resurrect a giant frying pan which was made for a failed world record attempt at making the biggest whitebait patty about 16 years ago in Haast.

However, repair work needed on the pan was considerable, and it was likely it would play a major role in next year's event instead, Mrs Kerr said.

West Coast Whitebait Festival project co-ordinator Dominic Moran, of Christchurch, was a judge in the cook-off component of the event and praised its organisers for their efforts.

"I'm rapt with the way the Haast community has really taken hold of this. It's just absolutely fantastic from my perspective that they've all come in behind it and responded to the call," Mr Moran said.

"I think they've got a chance to really take ownership of whitebait as a festival theme. The community doubles in size during whitebait season and it's a great time to be attracting visitors."

Mr Moran was keen to see the festival return next year.

- lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz

 

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