Meet Our Demonstrators - Local Wild Food Festival 2025
We're very lucky to have notable chefs and local hunters and gatherers demonstrating at this year's Local Wild Food Festival! Read on to find out more.
Paul Patterson
Paul Patterson is a New Zealand born executive chef, with more than 17 years experience in hospitality - spanning five different countries from New Zealand to America to Paris!
Having recently taken over the infamous Fisherman's Wharf in Ōhope, we're thrilled to have Paul as one of our demonstrators this year. Read media articles covering Paul's experience here:
New Zealand Herald - Viva Magazine, Dish Magazine and Chef's Kitchen.
Image captions: 1. Viva Magazine - Va Bene head chef Leo Hendra and Paul Patterson. Photo / Jonny Scott. 2 and 3. Fisherman's Wharf outdoor setting and from the air. Photo / BareKiwi.
Sam the Trap Man (Hamiora Gibson)
Sam the Trap Man, is a first timer at the Local Wild Food Festival. The Gisborne-based author runs a popular instagram account, showcasing his life as a Dad and Bushman: part hunter, trapper, fisher, forager and conservationist.
In the lead up to the event (Friday 21 February), Sam will be running a foraging walk on local land - limited tickets are available. On the festival day, find him in the Smokey Zone - breaking down trout, running a smoking trout demonstration, aswell as a Pikopiko cooking demonstration.
Image captions: All supplied from Sam The Trap Man.
Shay Williamson
Shay Williamson is a possum trapper and content creator who runs the successful online channel 'Keeping It Wild.' The channel is all about teaching primal skills that put food on the table: hunting, gathering, cooking, and eating!
Join Shay for a Possum breakdown, cooked on camp oven and served in the late afternoon. And learn how to make a foraged Berry Bush Salad.
Read about Shay here - YouTube sensation Shay Williamson, eats only what he hunts! Watch an interview of YouTube with Shay - Keeping it wild.
Image Captions: 1. Shay Williamson chows down on cooked possum. Photo / YouTube / Keeping it Wild. 2. Shay Williamson's signature dish: crispy possum tail. Photo: Screenshot: YouTube / Keeping it Wild.
Other Notable Mentions
Join Stu and Dean from Gentlemen Farmers for a gin demonstration, using ingredients sourced from their land at Wainui.
Toby Bakker will be showcasing Butcher beast breakdowns on site during the festival day, with open fire cooking and tastings of pork sausages... yum!
Simon Geddes owner of the Tio Ōhiwa oyster farm and harbour cruise in stunning Ōhiwa Harbour, will be demonstrating the art of Oyster Shucking.
And any more! - keep an eye out on our socials Whakatāne.nz for our full programme demonstrators and times.
Our Cooking Challenge Judges for 2025!
We're thrilled to have renowned Māori chef Joe McLeod join us again this year. Read more about Joe here - A life of Kai and Setting off around the Motu.
Our second Judge is still to be announced.
Sign up for the Local Wild Food Cooking Challenge - show us your foraging and cooking skills and be in to win amazing prizes!
