Aquaculture NZ hits the road: see you in Twizel and Havelock

Community festivals offer far more than good food and entertainment—they create real opportunities for connection. 

For Aquaculture New Zealand (AQNZ), attending the 2026 Twizel Salmon & Wine Festival and the Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival is a chance to build understanding, trust, and pride in one of Aotearoa’s key food producing sectors. 

These events provide something digital channels can’t: kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) conversations, authentic stories, and shared experiences that bring aquaculture to life. 

Food and wine festivals attract people who care about where their food comes from. In Twizel, AQNZ can connect with inland communities and show how aquaculture supports local jobs and contributes to New Zealand’s food story.  In Havelock—the heart of mussel farming—AQNZ can celebrate the sector’s heritage, its role in local identity, and new innovations shaping its future. 

Both festivals offer a relaxed space to highlight premium products and the industry’s commitment to sustainability. 

Visitors can ask questions about farming, the environment, and careers—and get answers directly from people in the industry. These conversations strengthen the social licence aquaculture relies on in a way brochures or websites can’t. 

Festivals also let people taste and experience aquaculture firsthand, from mussel samples to salmon cooking demos—showing the craft and care behind New Zealand seafood. 

They’re also valuable for collaboration with local producers, hospitality teams, and tourism operators, while offering insights into what people value and how they see the sector. 

By joining the Twizel and Havelock festivals, AQNZ isn’t just showing up—it’s connecting, educating, and celebrating alongside the communities that support the industry.