• This event was part of EcoFest 2026 and has passed.
Past Programme 2026

Kai For Community Festival

Event Tags:
Mobility Accessible Public Transport School Holidays Whānau Friendly

Location

Piritahi Marae
53 Tahatai Road, 1081
Waiheke and Gulf

About this Event

Join us for a whānau-friendly day of celebrating Waiheke’s food culture and stories!

This year the Kai for Community Waiheke Food Festival returns to Piritahi Marae for another showcase of the island’s culinary richness through kai, talks, stories, stalls, and activities for tamariki.

Highlights include:

  • the return of ‘hangi master’ Eugene Behan-Kitto, who will coordinate the hāngī of this season’s kūmara harvest from Piritahi māra. Come for a delicious lunch, or better yet – learn how it’s done with Eugene’s guidance. We would love to see you at Piritahi Marae on Sat 18th, 2-5pm for hāngī prep.
  • the launch of locally authored pukapuka, Sweet As: Mātauranga Tāonga I tuku Iho ō ngā Kūmara mō Te Motu O Arairoa, the restoration of kūmara growing on Waiheke by Tessa O’Shea
  • a talk by Kate Evans on the topic of her book, Feijoa – A story of obsession and belonging.
  • facepainting by Amanda Sorrenson

Eddie Welsh will be presiding over the pumpkin weighing, plus we’ll have our usual produce competition categories (Best Fruit, Best Veg, Best Flowers and Best Preserves). Adult and tamariki entries will be judged separately for the competition, with locally donated prizes to be won: get thinking about what you can bring to the table!

IMPORTANT: Please make sure to arrive promptly for a 10AM pōwhiri if you have not been welcomed onto the marae. Koha appreciated.

The long-range forecast is for rain – so we are planning for an indoor festival just in case!

This event is made possible thanks to funding from the Waiheke Local Board and COGS – ngā mihi maioha.

Cost: Free

Registration/Ticket Info:

https://www.facebook.com/events/2127327988042103