'Everything that makes Gore great': Event up for award
Now in its 10th year, the MVM Hokonui Culture Feast has grown from humble beginnings in 2015 into a cornerstone of the Council’s events calendar.
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The Mataura Valley Milk Hokonui Culture Feast has been named a finalist in the 2025 New Zealand Event Association (NZEA) Awards.
The Culture Feast is a finalist in the Food, Beverage or Lifestyle Event of the Year. It is the only Southland event to make this year’s honours roll.
Gore District Council events coordinator Florine Potts said making the finals was recognition of the event’s outstanding contribution to community celebration, cultural inclusivity, and regional pride.
Now in its 10th year, the MVM Hokonui Culture Feast has grown from humble beginnings in 2015 into a cornerstone of the Council’s events calendar.
It celebrates the District’s cultural diversity through international cuisine, traditional performances, and inclusive activities for all ages.
This year’s culture feast featured 30 food vendors representing 22 different cuisines, live music and dance, and interactive children’s activities such as origami and lolly lei making – all delivered with a warm Southern welcome.
Potts acknowledged the community’s passion and teamwork in making the Culture Feast such a success.
“This event is a celebration of everything that makes Gore great – our diversity, our inclusiveness, and our small-town determination to put on an event that could rival any big city.
“We’re thrilled to see the Culture Feast recognised on the national stage.”
The 2024 event achieved several significant milestones, including a record attendance of approximately 1800 people, a 50% increase from the previous year.
Strong community partnerships had been critical in keeping the event free and accessible to all, Potts said.
Securing Mataura Valley Milk (MVM) as a naming sponsor and Ajax Building as a gold sponsor enabled a move to the MLT Event Centre – Gore’s largest indoor venue.
This allowed for a significant boost in vendor numbers, improved comfort and accessibility.
A partnership with Southland’s More FM ensured the event was broadcast live across the region, extending its reach and reputation beyond the Gore District, while local students from Māruawai College pitched in, gaining hands-on experience and developing connections across communities and cultures.
Last year was also the first time the community group, the Pakeke Lions Club, was involved in the culture feast.
The larger venue meant there was space for the club to bring its recycling bins and educate people about waste sustainability.
Potts said the Council was proud to provide a free, family-friendly event to celebrate the 45 ethnicities that call the Gore District home.
“The culture feast showcases the cultures that make up our community in a way that’s authentic and deeply inclusive.
“It’s a real credit to our community groups and sponsors who help bring it to life,” she said.
The NZEA Awards celebrate excellence across the events sector, recognising creativity, innovation, and positive impact. Winners will be announced at the NZEA Awards Gala evening on September 2 at the Claudelands Events Centre.