The Kāpiti Food Fair is on this Saturday at Mazengarb Reserve from 10am – 5pm.
Organisers Helene Judge and Jeanine van Kradenburg say the Kāpiti Food Fair is more than just a culinary event; “it is a celebration of Aotearoa’s rich food culture and a chance for visitors to experience the best of what the Kāpiti Coast has to offer.”
The Kāpiti Food Fair draws visitors from across the Wellington Region and beyond, contributing to the area’s tourism and hospitality sectors. The Fair is a festive event that aligns with the start of summer, encouraging outdoor activities and the enjoyment of local cuisine in a vibrant, community and festival focused setting.
TICKET OFFICE on day: $25 Adult | $20 Gold Card or Student ID
FREE up to 12 years
PARKING OPTIONS: $10 VIP or Gold Coin
$3 Bags, $5 T-towels, $10 Aprons (not sold online)
Kāpiti Food Fair was established in 2008 as a community event with humble beginnings. Now privately owned and operated as a limited liability company with directors and shareholders, Helene Judge and Jeanine van Kradenburg, who helped conceptualise the initial event.
“The vision of the Fair is about leaving a lasting impression on food lovers.”
Helene and Jeanine say while their mission is to bring visitors to the Kāpiti Coast for an exciting and indulgent day filled with good food, good music, and great company for all food enthusiasts, they want the Fair to be remembered as a standout food and beverage pop-up experience that sees visitors returning each year. They want everyone to have fun, as “life is busy, so creating a moment to stop and enjoy what is happening around us is paramount.”
“Every member of our crew and volunteer team plays a vital role in making the Kāpiti Food Fair a standout event. Their dedication ensures a memorable and successful day for visitors. They are at the heart of our operation, contributing essential roles each year and making our mission a reality. Generous donations to volunteer groups are central to our social entrepreneurial ethos to make a positive impact in our community.
“In collaboration with our largest volunteer group, Kāpiti Rotary, who exemplify service and dedication, they manage critical tasks such as setup, pack out, and onsite traffic management – they are true community spirit in action.”
Helene and Jeanine says they also have another large crew from Work Ready Kāpiti who source students from all three local colleges, Paraparaumu, Kāpiti and Ōtaki. “This crew greet visitors with enthusiasm while handling ticket scanning and gold coin parking koha. The local ANZ Kāpiti team, our Silver Sponsor, provides invaluable support and customer service by running the Ticket Office for which we are hugely grateful. Kāpiti Community Patrol are also onboard again to monitor various aspects of the Fair site, and our final important volunteer crew is the amazing team from the No 49 Squadron Air Cadets, who are extraordinary waste busters.”