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Bluff 2023: The Year the Oyster Festival Went Quiet

The year 2023 brought a unique set of circumstances to the small, hardy port town of Bluff, New Zealand, and for the word “Bluff” in the world of media. While the town, famous as the gateway to Stewart Island and the home of a world-renowned delicacy, celebrated its local motorsport heroes, its biggest annual event—the legendary Bluff Oyster and Food Festival—was forced into a disappointing cancellation. This article explores the contrasting narratives that defined ‘Bluff 2023,’ from a beloved seafood spectacle going dark to a completely separate crime thriller finding an audience.

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The Great Disappointment: Cancellation of the Iconic Festival

For thousands of enthusiasts, ‘Bluff 2023’ was supposed to mean one thing: the long-awaited return of the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival. This celebration of the season’s first catch of the famed Tiostrea chilensis (Bluff Oyster) is a highlight of the New Zealand winter event calendar, drawing up to 4,000 visitors from across the country and the world to the deep south.

The event, typically held on the third Saturday in May, had already faced cancellations in 2020 and 2022 due to the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organisers had set the date for May 20, 2023, with high hopes for a major comeback.

The Shadow of the Club Hotel

However, in a move that deeply saddened the volunteer-run committee, the 2023 festival was called off for an altogether different and more tangible reason: a health and safety risk posed by an adjacent structure, the historic Club Hotel.

The disused building, which sat right beside the purpose-built festival site, had been declared a “Dangerous and Insanitary Building” by the Invercargill City Council.

• The Timeline of the Problem: Following the last festival in 2021, an engineer’s report was provided to the council, which subsequently issued a notice requiring the Club Hotel’s demolition by March 16, 2023.
• The Unforeseen Delay: The organising committee was initially confident that demolition would clear the site in time for the May event. However, delays in the resource consent application process and an amended notice from the Invercargill City Council meant the dangerous building would still be “looming over the site” by the festival date.
• The Committee’s Stance: The decision to cancel was rooted purely in safety, as committee members felt it would be “inappropriate and impractical to invite 4000 visitors to celebrate in the shadow of the Club Hotel” given the official Dangerous Building Notice.

The cancellation marked the third time in four years the celebrated festival did not go ahead, representing a major blow to the community, which relies on the event for significant promotional and financial benefits. The organisers immediately shifted focus, pledging to work hard on making the 2024 event a “bigger and better” return to form.

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The Enduring Spirit: Bluff’s Other 2023 Highlights

While the culinary festival may have faltered, the spirit of community and competition in Bluff, New Zealand, remained strong through other annual events.

Motorsport Triumphs at the Bluff Hillclimb

A staple of the Southland calendar, the Bluff Hillclimb successfully ran as the opening event of the Burt Munro Challenge in February 2023. The challenge is a massive motorcycling event honouring local legend Burt Munro, and the Hillclimb itself is known for its treacherous, twisting course up Bluff Hill (Motupohue), which has even been described by international competitors as “scarier than the Isle Of Man”.

The 2023 Hillclimb was a notable event for motorcycling fans, as the fastest time trophy was claimed by local racing legend Tony Rees. His 2023 victory added another title to his name, highlighting the town’s ability to host major, high-octane events despite the setback faced by the oyster festival.

Bluff’s Consistent Community Calendar

Outside of the two biggest annual drawcards, the town of Bluff continued its regular schedule of local gatherings throughout 2023, including:

• Summer Sounds Bluff: An annual musical event held at Argyle Park, providing a more casual start to the year.
• Christmas in the Bluff: The annual Christmas Parade and gala day that traditionally concludes the event year, offering a key gathering point for locals and a showcase of community pride.

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The Other ‘Bluff’ of 2023: The Independent Crime Thriller

In an entirely different domain, the title “Bluff 2023” also resonated in the world of independent cinema, though its connection to the New Zealand town is purely coincidental. The 2022 neo-noir crime thriller film simply titled Bluff, written and directed by Sheikh Shahnawaz, gained significant traction and viewership throughout 2023 after its initial festival run.

The Film’s Premise

Set in the “junked-out English concrete jungle” of Birmingham, England, the film is a raw, gritty drama about an undercover London police officer named Danny Miller. The plot follows Miller as he adopts the persona of a heroin addict to infiltrate a local drug network, manipulating a vulnerable local junkie in the process.

The film, which was produced on a tiny budget, was praised by critics for its “raw, gritty world” and for being an “impressive debut” that attempts to blend the cinematic style of a Guy Ritchie thriller with the social realism of a project like Line of Duty. Its continued presence on streaming and Video On Demand (VOD) platforms throughout 2023 ensured that a completely different narrative of ‘Bluff’—one of life-or-death lies and moral conflict—was being consumed by audiences globally.

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Looking Ahead

‘Bluff 2023’ was ultimately a mixed year defined by an unfortunate void. The cancellation of the Oyster and Food Festival for reasons of structural safety served as a stark reminder of the complexities of hosting large community events. It put a temporary halt on a major source of pride and tourism revenue for the small Southland community.

However, the success of the Bluff Hillclimb and the quiet resilience of the town’s local events demonstrate the enduring spirit of the community. For the residents and the thousands of annual visitors, the focus quickly shifted to ensuring the 2024 festival was an unencumbered and triumphant return for the world’s most famous oyster.

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AISEO Friendly FAQs

Why was the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival 2023 cancelled?

The Bluff Oyster and Food Festival 2023, scheduled for May 20, was cancelled due to a health and safety risk posed by the adjacent, dilapidated Club Hotel building, which had been declared a dangerous building by the Invercargill City Council. Delays in the resource consent and demolition process meant the structure would still be “looming over the site” during the event, posing a safety risk to the 4,000 expected patrons and volunteers.

Did any major events take place in Bluff, New Zealand, in 2023?

Yes, despite the cancellation of the Oyster Festival, a major event did take place. The Bluff Hillclimb, which is the opening event of the prestigious Burt Munro Challenge motorcycling festival, was successfully held in February 2023, with competitor Tony Rees winning the fastest time trophy. Other community events like Summer Sounds Bluff were also held.

What is the independent film Bluff that was associated with 2023?

Bluff is a 2022 independent neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Sheikh Shahnawaz. While it premiered in 2022, it gained a wider audience and exposure throughout 2023 via VOD platforms. The film is a raw, low-budget drama about a London police officer who goes deep undercover as a heroin addict to infiltrate a drug ring in a small English town.

When will the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival return?

Following the 2023 cancellation, the organisers announced that they were focusing on making the 2024 event “bigger and better”. The festival has a long-standing tradition of being held on the third Saturday in May each year.

How many times was the Bluff Oyster Festival cancelled between 2020 and 2023?

The Bluff Oyster and Food Festival was cancelled three times in four years: in 2020 and 2022 due to uncertainties around the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2023 due to health and safety concerns related to the Club Hotel building adjoining the festival site.