Live music and sumptuous food: the perfect summer combination

From the moment you entered the Katikati Avocado Food & Wine Festival in 2023, there was lots on offerfrom live music to cooking demonstrations, kids’ entertainment and sumptuous food and beverages

Boom Boom Deluxe kicked us off at noon with 50’s inspired Rock n ’ Roll and a non-stop high-energy performance, leaving tired but happy dance-floors behind them Fronted by New Zealand Rockabilly royalty pinup legend Hettie LaBombe and partner harmonica-blowing

D D Deluxe, their modern Rockabilly delivery with hints of Jazz and Swing (courtesy of Hettie’s singing and playing style) and also heavy rock and blues (D D’s contribution) makes for a truly unique experience

Next on stage from 2 20pm was The Lady Killers These wonderful ladies need little introduction From a whisper to a scream and everything in between, Tina Cross, Suzanne Lynch and Jackie Clarke make beautiful music bursting with harmony and power The Lady Killers’ approach is simple; take great songs and lovingly accessorise them with harmony. The Lady Killers’ sound defies pigeonholing, wilfully crossing genres from pop, R&B, jazz, gospel, country to a whole lotta rock and gleefully name-checking iconic artists such as Queen, The Beatles, Neil Young, Neil Finn and Dolly Parton These gals sing anything that takes their fancy A Lady Killers performance is a dazzling vocal tour de force full of wonderful pin-drop moments, warmly presented by three women who know how to entertain and have a good laugh too

The Jordan Luck Band wrapped up the day from 4.30pm, and who does not know the words to all the Exponents songs? This iconic kiwi singer and his band are playing the best of all those iconic Exponents tracks we know and love as well as some of Jordan’s favourite kiwi classics From ‘Who Loves Who The Most?’ to ‘Victoria’, ‘Why Does Love Do This To Me?’ to ‘I’ll Say Goodbye’ and so many more favourites, the Jordan Luck Band brought the party

Shane Yardley returned for the fifth year to hold cooking demonstrations throughout the afternoon on the hour Shane was “excited to showcase the versatility of avocados and to create recipes that can be replicated by everybody at home”

Local vendors were on site with a wide variety of foods and beverages to satisfy every taste. Feedback from a visitor says it all: “Fantastic day out Great atmosphere, food, stalls and music Organised very well and the weather was magical Well done everyone ”

To see a gallery of photos, including a link to the Photobooth Lady’s gallery, visit katikatiavofest co nz Article supplied

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• full-time, and they sold up do-up project, “ Karen says

By Matthew Farrell

The new owners of the McDonnell Street retail block are settling in Ōmokoroa after a relaxed tour of New Zealand in a motorhome

Karen de Lautour and Dom Carroll are no strangers to the town Karen’s parents have lived here for more than 30 years, and they’ve been frequent visitors during that time

They took over the property on Tuesday 31st January, with commercial tenants including Ōmokoroa Takeaways, The Centre op shop, Your Real Estate, Ōmokoroa Accounting & Taxation, The

Salon, and Ōmokoroa Law

“People will wonder who had bought the property, so we wrote to them all to explain our intention - which is business as usual We are community-minded, and we plan to keep it as it is,” says Karen

“I think it was a sigh of relief for everyone; and they’re nice people, too,” says Dom

The couple previously lived in Gisborne when they decided to go for motorhome life and hit the road for six months in 2017 They rented out their apartment and went remote before deciding it was right for them

“I had this hair-brained idea to travel New Zealand and give it a go, and now we can say we ’ ve been there and done that,” says Karen

Dom’s self-employed work in websites and graphic design gave them the flexibility to explore, but post-Covid, they’ve taken stock and reevaluated

“My parents are close It’s a home and income We looked at other houses, but this was the glass slipper which fitted It also ticks our boxes as a