Live in the NZ King Salmon Culinary Tent
Celebrity Chef Michael Van de Elzen
Michael Van de Elzen is one of New Zealand’s most loved chefs, having starred on a number of television shows, most recently TVNZ’s Eat Well for Less New Zealand.
He started a career in the food industry at the tender age of 14, working in some of Auckland’s and London’s landmark restaurants, while owning several of his own over the years.
Michael is passionate about healthy food, particularly now his wife Belinda and their girls are living on a lifestyle block out west Auckland. Michael and Bee opened the Good From Scratch Cookery School on their lifestyle block in Muriwai in 2020. The school is an embodiment of the Van de Elzen’s combined philosophy; food is best when it’s prepared from scratch. Classes are a hands-on experience that take guests on a culinary journey that involves picking and gathering ingredients for the days menu while learning about why they’re important nutritionally, how to master the cooking process, and the best ways to grow and pick seasonal food at home.
In 2023, Michael released his sixth cookbook, Good From Scratch, sharing seasonal, classic recipes with a twist. The recipes are complemented with advice on key ingredients, as well as cooking and gardening tips - delivering the ultimate garden-to-table guide.
Expert Food Educator
With his entertaining, hilarious presenting style, and infectious passion for food, Ganesh Raj is one of New Zealand’s most awarded hospitality personalities, and experienced hosts, both in television and live events.
Having hosted his own television programmes on MTV Asia and ESPN for over a decade, as well as being featured on TVNZ’s Good Morning, Family Recipes, and Neighbourhood, Ganesh literally brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Recipient for two years running of Metro Magazine’s Restaurant Personality of the Year, as well as live hosting renowned events like Taste of Auckland, Winetopia, and the Auckland Writers Festival, Ganesh creates a wonderful rapport with audiences of all ages, showcasing his love of life, and unique take on all things delicious.
Ganesh is currently the co-host of ‘Eat Well for Less NZ’ on TVNZ, which is in its 5th season and its 4th season on Foxtel in Australia. He is also the host and co-judge of ‘Cooks on Fire’ on TVNZ, which recently had it's 2nd season.
He is also host of his own channel ‘The Humble Yum Yum’ on Youtube and on TVNZ On Demand and most recently, the host of his own Podcast – The Humble Yum Yum on iHeartradio, Apple & Spotify. He has also graced the TVNZ screens on shows such as ‘SnackmasterNZ’ and ‘Give Us a Clue’.
Live on the Gascoigne Wicks Stage
Shapeshifter
Record-breaking New Zealand tours, scene-setting appearances at festivals like Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Big Day Out and Park life, sold-out performances across Europe, multiple music awards, four EPs and five LPs—three with platinum sales—and an army of fans who return to relive the experience time and time again.
These are just some of Shapeshifter’s towering achievements. The five-strong lineup of P Digsss (vocals), Sam Trevethick (guitar/synths/sampler), Dan McGruer (synths/sampler), Nick Robinson(bass/synths/MPC) and Darren Mathiassen (drums) have created their very own heavy soul; a stadium-sized sound which adds layers of drum & bass, jazz, funk, rock and electronica to solid bass culture foundations.
Originally hailing from Christchurch, the future-shocked soul outfit’s music is crafted by a living, breathing band of musicians, with all the form-changing sonic possibilities live instrumentation offers.
“The essence of Shapeshifter live is that we are completely 100% un-sequenced-no laptop click track. We play 'off the grid' using analogue and digital synthesizers.”–Sam Trevethick.
Off the grid and out of this world, from the clubs to packed festival fields, Shapeshifter’s transcending sound has already seen them achieve extraordinary things.
Now recording their 7th studio album for a 2020 release, the innovative band continue to solidify their status as New Zealand’s premiere live electronic outfit.
Tom Knowles & The Full Noise Boys
The Relatives are a popular, contemporary, and entertaining live band who cover an extensive range of all your favourite songs.
The band perform regularly throughout NZ at many events and festivals delivering an electrifying, fun, and upbeat performance to incredible audiences. Their expansive and exciting repertoire is guaranteed to have everyone up and dancing the entire time.
Wellington Sea Shanty Society
Aotearoa New Zealand's Most 'Sea Worthy' Shanty Group™ have been belting out traditional and original sea songs from Aotearoa, France, Spain, the UK and more, since time immemorial (2012).
Seafarers and landlubbers from across the globe have been battered by the rousing chorus of this 4-sailor squall of pure shanty. With squeezebox, git-fiddle, fiddle, and drums — expect rousing harmonies and raucous foot-stomping abound!
The Wellington Sea Shanty Society have toured Aotearoa and France multiple times and are known for their rowdy and participatory live shows. They've performed at Paimpol (one of the world's largest shanty festivals), Splore, Albany Folk Festival (Aus), Quebec Sea Shanty Festival (Canada) and a shipload of other festivals in NZ, France & Canada.
They will be playing new classics from their forthcoming EP 'Never Mind the Rowlocks' as well as your foamy favourites from the 'Sea Shanties of the 70s, 80s, & Today!' EP and their 'Now That's What I Call Sea Shanties' series.
2026 Programme
The programme for the 2026 event will confirmed closer to the event. But check out the programme from the 2025 event to see what happened at the 21st celebration!
