19 Dec 2009

Hangi volume to be much higher at Kawhia festival

11:55 am on 19 December 2009

About 6,000 hangi will be put down to feed those attending an annual Maori kai festival at Kawhia on Waitangi Day.

Organisers say the population of the coastal township in Waikato will leap from 380 to nearly 10,000, as people line up for a taste of huhu grubs, dried shark, and mussel chowder.

Waatea News reports the festival started six years ago to celebrate 6 February, but no one expected it would be so popular.

Organiser Lloyd Whiu says hangi is the undoubted favourite which is why twice as many will be cooked next year.

He says hangi is extremely popular with people many of whom have never tried kai cooked in the earth.