What is
Fungi Fest?
An annual month-long festival of events that use creativity to explore the fantastic world of Mycology. Launched in Tauranga (BOP) 14th March 2024.
Includes a range of events, for example:
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Expert talks
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Creative workshops; pottery, metalwork, woodwork, painting, textiles and more!
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Food events
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Film events
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Fungi walks and photography
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Fungarium building workshops
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Free community workshops
Part of the festival is held in collaboration with Envirohub Bay of Plenty’s Sustainable Backyards program.
Tauranga City Library hosts our fungi information talks and our all-ages colouring in competition. Each year we get a different NZ based creative to do the design.
What is Mycology?
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their taxonomy, genetics, biochemical properties, and use by humans.
Fungi can be a source of tinder, food, traditional medicine, as well as entheogens, poison, and infection. Mushrooms are considered a kind of fungal reproductive organ.
Fungi also plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle because of their ability to break down complex organic biomolecules and pollutants.
With around 90,000 species, and thousands described every year, it is estimated that there might be more than one million fungal species in the world, which makes the fungal kingdom one of the most important.
Fungi Fest NZ 2025 29th March to 4th May
You can download the full 2025 programme here...
2025 Colouring Competition!
In collaboration with Te Ao Mārama – Tauranga City Library.
Check out the 2025 fungi filled colouring in competition created by Tauranga Artist Sarah Summers. Download the PDF to print at home by clicking HERE. Or pick up a sheet from your local Tauranga Library - Greerton, Tauranga City, The Mount or Papamoa.
Prize includes: Gel pens, mushroom stickers, enamel mushroom pins, mushroom sticky notes and a $20 Whitcoulls voucher.
How to enter:
Take a good quality photo of your finished page and email to competition@ecoscievents.org.nz Entries must be submitted by email, paper copies will not be accepted. Entries close 4th May. The winner will be drawn at random, from the top chosen entries in each age category (there is no age limit!), and will be contacted via email on 11th May. Prize must be collected from a Te Ao Mārama – Tauranga City Library.
2025 Fungi Hunt Competition NZ with iNaturalist
Join the hunt! Get outdoors and discover the magical world of fungi with Envirohub BOP and Fungi Fest NZ this April.
Snap and upload photos of any fungi you find throughout the month – every fungi observation = 1 entry into the draw to win awesome prizes, including:
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1-year subscription to NZ Geographic Magazine
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3 x 1-year Digital Subscription to NZ Geographic
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Mushroomy goodies donated by our local legends!
How to enter:
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Join the iNaturalist project (using the button below)
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Upload your fungi finds any time during April 2025
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Follow along for updates and prize reveals
🌿 Envirohub BOP:
🍄 Fungi Fest NZ:
📸 NZ Geographic:
FUNGI FEST NZ 2024
2024 Fungi Fest Specials
We love a good special! For the duration of the festival, participating local foodies created some very special limited time only dishes, a 'Fungi Fest Special'. Order yours, snap a photo with it and upload it here (or send it to us on social media) and you will go in the draw to win a prize from that business (details below).
Only available during the month of Fungi Fest NZ!
Creamy mushrooms on ciabatta with poached egg, sprinkled with parmesan and basil.
Mushroom lovers unite and head down to IDK Cafe, a local secret tucked away in the Spring Street Arcade. A family run cafe with really great food and a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Location:
IDK Cafe, 46 Spring Street, Tauranga.
Coconut mousse, pineapple compote, spiced rum sponge and white chocolate.
Not a fan of mushrooms but love a good dessert? Then this is the special for you! And you may as well try one of their amazing dessert cocktails while you're there.
Location:
But First Dessert, Shop 6/109 Devonport Road, Access via Elizabeth Street, Tauranga.
2024 Colour in to Win!
Check out the 2024 fungi filled colouring in competition created by avid fungi finder and creative genius Julie Davies! With great fungi activities on the back. Download the PDF to print at home by clicking HERE. Judged by Julie Davies and the Fungi Fest NZ team.
The winners:
A huge thank you to Emma James-Ries of Turned & Burned Aotearoa for donating a collection of wooden mushrooms and for overseeing the colouring in competition entries - you're a legend! And to Affixed NZ for the fungi pins and patches. Thank you to Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries for hosting our colouring in competition in their spaces - you guys rock! And an extra special THANK YOU to Julie Davies of Joolzart for donating 2 of her amazing Fungi colouring in books.
About Julie Davies - Joolzart
Julie recently created the 'Fungi of Aotearoa New Zealand Colouring Book.' based on her fungi paintings which will be available for purchase at the Fungi Fest NZ Community Festival Day on Sunday 14th April. You can also email Julie at joolzart68@gmail.com to order a copy now or follow her on social media to see more of her creations.
Like Mycorrhiza:
Food, Film, Knowledge & Connection
Attendees immersed themselves in an evening of culinary delights, film, live entertainment and meaningful connection. A delectable three-course mushroom centered meal and an enlightening film exploring the importance of fungi. Live music by the talented Sade Clarke and a fungi themed quiz with some strange questions and wonderful prizes.
Proudly Sponsored by
Fungi Fest NZ is Supported by
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