Air Chathams Sunshine and a Plate

IT AIN’T CALLED THE BAY OF PLENTY FOR NOTHING – and this summer’s Air Chathams Sunshine and a Plate festival in Whakatāne shows you why.

Blessed with some of the highest sunshine hours in the country, Whakatāne is also blessed with an abundance of great local produce – and some great locals who know just what to do with it. To showcase all the good things the area has on offer, and to tickle your taste buds in the process, Sunshine and a Plate brings together a huge variety of events, so what better excuse do you need to make a getaway to the eastern Bay your last fling of the summer.

Sunshine and a Plate has been raising funds and awareness for Hospice Eastern Bay of Plenty for five years now, and this year sees regular favourites return, together with some new events going into the mix. “This year’s line-up is set to be an incredible fifth year into our food festival,” says Hospice EBOP’s Anna Hughes. “We’ve taken elements of the most successful events and made them even better, while adding new and exciting events to our plate every year. We couldn’t do any of this without the support of our sponsors, with extra thanks to our principal sponsor, Air Chathams, for investing in us from year one. The funds we raise help fill some of the $500,000 shortfall to provide vital medical care to local patients in their final months. We help them to make every day count, live with dignity and comfort. We can’t do it without the support of our community and our sponsors.”

The week-long celebration kicks off on February 29 with the always well-attended gourmet market. This year the family-friendly al fresco foodie extravaganza is set amongst the lovely Whakatāne rose gardens and really has something for everyone: food stalls, a garden bar, a children’s area and entertainment. All you need to do is bring a picnic blanket and an appetite, then sit back beneath the trees and enjoy the sunset, the taste sensations and the sounds.

Once the market has got you in the mood for food, then the very next day the Local Foodie Tour kicks it into overdrive. Exclusive tastings, demonstrations and discounts mean this is an incredible insight into some real hidden gems. It’s simple – pick up your map and make a day of it discovering the remarkable produce – everything from figs to olive oil and craft beer, including an olive grove tour, tastings and discounts – that this region has to offer.

The funds we raise help fill some of the $500,000 shortfall to provide vital medical care to local patients in their final months.

And if you want to literally get a bird’s eye view of this region, remember that Air Chathams’ very own DC-3 will be coming to the Sunshine and a Plate party too. The morning or evening flights are a unique opportunity to step back in time aboard the iconic DC-3 for a 45-minute scenic flight along the coast that begins with sumptuous food and chilled bubbles as you learn the fascinating history of the aircraft. Then we take to the skies to enjoy the breath-taking scenery including Whakaari (White Island) and Moutohorā (Whale Island). Air Chathams has been a sponsor of the event since its inception and are proud to be back again with our grand dame of the sky.

Sunshine and a Plate Gourmet Markets

The family-friendly al fresco foodie extravaganza is set amongst the lovely Whakatāne rose gardens and really has something for everyone.

Another chance for some glamour – and cocktails! – comes with the expertly titled Ginstromony evening on Friday March 6. Get along for a spectacular evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and – wait for it – five courses of bespoke gin-based cocktails and drinks. Award winning chef William Mordido returns to cater this event after the success of his sell-out Buko Pop-Up restaurant in 2019, so rest assured you are in for some great eats as well as drinks.

What better way to round off Sunshine and a Plate than Sunset on the Wharf - a three-course grand finale to a week of indulgence and discovery.

No visit to Whakatāne would be complete without a BBQ, and a new event added to the programme this year ticks that box admirably. Beach. BBQ. Bar. Band. What more do you need in the sunny Bay of Plenty? And this is not your usual sausages and sauce BBQ, but a lavish gourmet spread, with a fantastic selection of beverages, music by the extremely-talented Jinan Dodd, a beach bonfire and games, all on Ōhope’s amazing beach. And this year’s Sunshine and a Plate will also feature a visit from passionate chef, writer and Hospice Ambassador Jo Seagar, who will be at the Ladies Lunch on Wednesday, March 4. Held at Meadow Hill in Awakeri – just ten minutes from Whakatāne.

And what better way to round off Sunshine and a Plate than Sunset on the Wharf. Back by popular demand, this is a three-course grand finale to a week of indulgence and discovery – and all for a good cause remember. With the stunning Ōhiwa Harbour as a 360 degree backdrop, Ōhope’s one and only Tom Maguire and the team from Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant take their culinary skills and sense of occasion out onto the adjacent wharf and as the sun goes down the food keeps coming and the wine flows. And as the sun goes down, all you have to think about is planning your trip back next year.