22 April 2010
TV star, former Tall Black and a man who obviously appreciates fine food, Brendon Pongia, will be a guest at this years Bluff Oyster & Food Festival on Saturday 22 May.
The Festival has attracted its fair share of celebrities over the years and Pongia will be one of several high profile kiwis at this years event.
The star of TV One's Good Morning Show will attend with his wife Michelle and is really looking forward to experiencing the Festival for the first time. "I love Bluff Oysters!" "Even international chefs that I have met say there is no comparison and that they are the best oysters in the world."
"I have been trying to get down to the Festival for a number of years. We filmed an episode of Good Morning in Invercargill a while ago and I asked Tim (Mayor Tim Shadbolt) to invite me down for the Festival. He never invited me but now I finally have the chance." As well as anticipating his share of Bluff Oysters Brendon is also looking forward to coming to Bluff and enjoying the Festival experience. "I like Bluff and I think the Festival will be amazing. I'm looking forward to being a part of it." Last year when I was in the south playing basketball for the Southland Flyers my wife Michelle and I visited Bluff and we both love it. We both thoroughly enjoyed the friendliness of the people in the south. My wife was amazed how friendly people were."
Pongia is bound to be a popular in the south. His stint with the Southland Flyers last season helped basketball in the south reach the first division and the result of that is now evident in the very successful inaugural season the Southland Sharks are enjoying at the top level. Basketball is just one of Pongia's talents, the former Tall Black captain becoming established in television presenting a number of basketball and sport shows. Pongia was also a contestant in Dancing With The Stars in 2007 partnering Hayley Holt in a successful run through to the penultimate show."
Pongia will travel to the Festival courtesy of Air New Zealand. Prior to his visit he and fellow Good Morning Show personality Astar will serve up some Bluff Oyster dishes on the show. '
The Festival takes place at the Stewart Island Experience site on Foreshore Road adjacent to the Old Town Wharf in Bluff from 11am on Saturday 22 May.
Tickets are on sale at a cost of $16 each while tickets for children 12 & under will sell at $5 each. The Festival venue is limited to 5000 people on the day so Festival organisers are urging people to pre-book to ensure they gain admission on the day.
The Festival will feature a mouthwatering array of food and beverage with the Bluff Oyster the star of the show. Other activities include the Oyster Eating and Opening Races along with a varied programme of musical entertainment.
