It was all about fine food, great entertainment and sunshine as the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival took place in Bluff today.

A lengthy queue formed well before the gates opened at 10.30am, and the crowd of 4000 people filed in to enjoy the day in bright, sunny conditions.

At 11am the Bluff Oyster was piped in by the Invercargill Highland Pipe Band and local identity Bruce Pagan delivered the Ode to the Oyster before Festival Chairman John Edminstin declared the festival open. Edminstin thanked the businesses that support the event, the committee and volunteers, those who had travelled from far afield to attend and also the Southlanders who were in the crowd plus the skippers who fished the Bluff Oysters”. “It’s a tremendous day,” he said later as bright sunshine warmed the crowd.

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The food stalls were well patronised as people had their fill of oysters, seafood plus other food offerings.

The iconic Oyster Opening events attracted the usual big crowd and the competition was some of the closest ever. Shannon Te Kira of Calders Oysters won the Men’s Open final, opening 50 oysters in a time of 2 minutes 53 seconds. Last year’s champion Xavier Fife was just two seconds behind and Otene (OJ) Abrahams of Barnes Oysters was third just another two seconds behind Fife. Te Kira, who was second behind Fife last year said he was, “over the moon.” “I have been opening for five years and this is my second-year competing,” he said.

Shannon Te Kira of Calders Oysters, the winner of the Men’s Oyster Opening title at the 2025 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival in Bluff on Saturday. Photo: Andrew Barnett

Tia Selwyn of Barnes Oysters won the Ladies Open in a time of 3 minutes 22 seconds to win from Shana-Rae Reddy and Here Witehira. Selwyn who has only been working at opening oysters since March this year was, “absolutely rapt”. “It is my second-year competing, I was in the Novice Race last year.”

Calders Oysters won the Factory Relay race from Team Barnes while Ricci Grant of Calders won the Blindfold Race for the second year in a row. Legion Henry of Fowlers Oysters won the Novice Race from Riley Barrett.

Competitors came from as far afield as Taiwan, Canada and Beijing for the Oyster Eating competition before Benjamin Wright of New Plymouth took the title.

On the entertainment stage the large crowd enjoyed a range of entertainment from the Mapu-Kuki-Airani Rarotongan drummers, SIT Sounds, The Eastern, Brenny & The Bushwackers, a Polynesian dance off, Lachie Hayes and Hoodaki.

Tia Selwyn of Barnes Oysters, the winner of the Women’s Oyster Opening title at the 2025 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival in Bluff on Saturday. Photo: Andrew Barnett

RESULTS 2025 BLUFF OYSTER & FOOD FESTIVAL OYSTER COMPETITIONS

MEN’S CHALLENGE CUP (50 Oysters)

1: Shannon Te Kira (Calders Oysters) – 2 minutes 53 seconds

2: Xavier Fife (Calders Oysters) – 2 minutes 55 seconds

3: Otene OJ Abraham (Barnes Oysters) – 2 minutes 57 seconds

LADIES OPEN (50 Oysters)

1: Tia Selwyn (Barnes Oysters) 3 minutes 22 seconds

2: Shana-Rae Reddy (Calders Oysters) 3 minutes 45 seconds

3: Here Witehira (Barnes Oysters) 4 minutes 30 seconds

NOVICE CUP COMPETITION (50 Oysters)

1: Legion Henry (Fowlers Oysters)

2: Riley Barrett (Barnes Oysters)

DANIEL LOVETT MEMORIAL TROPHY BLINDFOLD RACE (12 Oysters)

1: Ricci Grant (Calders Oysters) – 1 minute 04 seconds

2: Legion Henry (Fowlers Oysters) – 1 minute 12 seconds

3: Aaron Gower (Barnes Oysters) – 1 minute 23 seconds

W E JOHNSON PLATE FACTORY RELAY (Teams of 4/25 Oysters per opener)

1: Team Calder Oysters (Ricci Grant, Shana-Rae Reedy, Shannon Te Kira, Xavier Fife)

2: Barnes Oysters (Otene ‘OJ’ Abraham, Vic Pearsey, Tia Selwyn, Aaron Gower)

BLUFF OYSTER & FOOD FESTIVAL OYSTER EATING (12 Oysters)

WINNER: Benjamin Wright (New Plymouth)