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Oyster and seafood lovers are well catered for in New Zealand, and May is the big month for oyster festivals.

The famous Bluff Oyster Festival, held at the southernmost point of New Zealand’s South Island, will occur next weekend, but demand is so great that it’s already sold out.

The Ōhiwa Oyster Festival is a relative newcomer located in the North Island.

The Ōhiwa Oyster Festival took place over the weekend just past, at Port Ōhope Wharf in the North Island’s Bay of Plenty region, about 90 minutes’ drive from Rotorua and a slightly shorter drive from Tauranga.

Olivia Geddes of Tio Ohiwa Oysters Harbour Cruises and Oyster Experiences

At TRENZ in Rotorua last week, Olivia Geddes of Tio Ōhiwa Oysters Harbour Cruises and Oyster Experiences said 900 tickets to the Ōhiwa Oyster Festival had sold, and tickets were in hot demand, with attendance likely to exceed 1000 people. The festival is an annual event; this is only its second year.

Geddes said about 450 people attended last year and had a great time. Word was out, and others were keen to book.

While this year’s festival is over, there are high hopes for 2026. The operator, Tio Ōhiwa, a 100% Māori-owned oyster farm, is open throughout the year.

Tio Ōhiwa invites visitors to explore the pristine Ōhiwa Harbour, discover ancestral stories, sustainable oyster farming, and enjoy a hands-on oyster experience, blending culture and nature.

Guests explore the farm’s pristine waters aboard Waka Kotiti and learn firsthand about the operation’s cultural heritage and eco-friendly farming methods.

Visitors are invited to join a hands-on oyster experience and a kai (food) experience where culture, history, and nature intertwine.

For further information, visit www.ohiwaoysters.com