Bluff will play host to a night of steampunk glamour this June, with the Oyster Roister Costume Ball to be held at the Eagle Hotel. 

Co-organiser Frazer Murdoch says the event hopes to draw an eclectic array of attendees and costumes.  

“We welcome cosplay, steampunk, dieselpunk, anything at all in fact.” 

“It's all about port life and the sea. Come dressed to impress. It will be a night of fire and light and fun to swing us around the midwinter solstice and launch us towards brighter days.”

Murdoch, along with his partner Megan Taylor, had initially planned to hold a steampunk fringe festival as part of the Bluff Oyster Festival.

However, when this year’s event was cancelled due to Covid, the idea for the costume ball was born.

“We are really into steampunk and dieselpunk, and we thought we would try and introduce other people to it. We thought the best way to do that was through a costume ball.”

Murdoch says he hopes the event will bring people to Bluff, especially as the town missed out on the usual influx of visitors for the Oyster Festival earlier this year.

“We are hoping to attract people to visit Bluff as a destination, rather than just a sign post for taking photos and buggering off again.”

“We want to show that we are a community, we are a destination, a place to stay and to spend time in.” 

The event will be held at the Eagle Hotel, where Murdoch currently displays two steampunk-themed motorbikes he built himself.

“They bring the punters in, a lot of people come in to have a look. We thought having them there really lends itself to the theme of the festival.” 

Food will be served during the evening, while musical entertainment will be provided by Alexandra artist Kim Dusty.

Murdoch says he and Taylor will also display several handmade shadowboxes, built from 44-gallon drums.

Each will display a different element of Bluff’s history and culture, from sailing and fishing to Māori history, and sea life. 

These will be auctioned the week following the event, with all proceeds donated to Bluff Promotions. 

The Oyster Roister Costume Ball will be held on Saturday 25 June 2022.

Prior ticket sales are limited to 150 and are $45 each. 

For ticket sales, contact Lindsay Beer at either 021 351 499 or [email protected] 

A small number of door sales will be available on the night.