This was supposed to be a post about the wonderful Pacific oysters we enjoyed at The Green Shed in Matakana, an hour’s drive north of Auckland, New Zealand.
It’s a gorgeous part of the world and The Green Shed has been a popular stopping off point since 2006. Here, you can indulge in a warming cream of oyster soup and buy ridiculously good oysters in the whole shell, the half shell, and in tubs (shucked and packed in their own liquor).
All Matakana Oysters are caught from a wild catch that occurs naturally in Mahurangi Harbour from late December to March. You can read all about the operation here.
But as I discovered in writing this post, Matakana Oysters is currently facing a crisis. Its oyster farm has been closed following a positive test for norovirus after recent sewage overflows.
It’s an unhappy saga that not only threatens the survival of oyster farms in north Auckland but also challenges New Zealand’s ‘100%’ Pure clean green image.
You can read all about it on Matakana Oysters’ Facebook page, where owner Tom Walters says that for him and other oyster farmers in the region, “it is more than just our livelihoods at risk, it’s about our environment, our community, and the terrible blatant hypocrisy that’s led to this area being grown without caring for what it’s growing into”.
Judging by the outpouring of support, it’s clear that The Green Shed is much loved by the community. Thanks to Northern Waters and True South Seafood, The Green Shed has been fortunate to source oysters from Kaipara Harbour, enabling it to continue operating.
But let’s hope there’s a happy ending to this story so that customers will once again be able to enjoy the briny winter-farmed Mahurangi.
Matakana Oysters
The Green Shed,
1217 Leigh Rd,
Matakana, New Zealand
+64 9-4226313
www.matakanaoysters.co.nz
With boutique wineries and galleries, farmers’ markets and some of the most beautiful beaches within easy reach of Auckland, there’s much to discover on the Matakana Coast. Find more information about the region here.