Localist party celebrates Tauranga’s local stars
Tauranga, 23 June 2014 It was a night to remember at Localist’s ‘Love Local’ party on Friday in Tauranga as TV stars,
local insiders, community rockstars and winners celebrated all that is great about their hometown.
Maketu’s Masterchef champions Karena and Kasey Bird were the stars of the show, lighting up the evening by treating 150
invited guests to an eightcourse degustation at the Tauranga Art Gallery on Friday June 21.
The tasting plates were designed by the sisters to showcase their region’s fresh produce and seafood and each dish was
expertly matched with New Zealand wine and beer from local microbrewery, Brew Craft Beer Pub.
Supported by family and close friends, including their boyfriends Patuara Biel and Horace Velese, the girls say the
event held at the Tauranga Art Gallery was also a chance to celebrate their success with fellow locals and thank their
region for supporting them through the competition.
Karena and Kasey extended a personal invite to their close friends from the recent toprating TV One series Masterchef
contestants, Tanisha Kemp and Verena Dooblah.
The reality TV star sisters were also joined on the night by Tauranga’s own Amazing Race team Heneri Fulton and Carla
Beazley, whose series will begin on TV2 shortly.
“We love everything about our hometown, which is why we still can’t imagine wanting to living anywhere other than
Maketu. It’s the place we can truly relax and be ourselves,” says Kasey.
Adds Karena, “As soon as I get home, I put my baggy shorts on and head off to yum cha, wearing no makeup. It’s amazing
to come from a place where everyone knows and supports you and you can just be yourself. The night was a chance to
celebrate that and everything we love about Tauranga with our friends, family and other locals who love this special
community just as much as we do.”
It’s why they are encouraging people to keep sharing the love on Localist to enable fellow Kiwis and visitors alike to
discover Tauranga.
localist.co.nz is the wordofmouth website that enables everyday Kiwis to share what’s great in their communities and
provides a platform for local businesses and those doing well to shine.
Encouraging people to post personal recommendations from their region is all part of Localist’s drive to bring awareness
to the global ‘Love Local’ movement that’s taking the world by storm.
“‘Love Local’ is about supporting those in your local community,” explains Localist General Manager Christina Sayers
Wickstead. “It’s what Kiwis are already brilliant at. Localist simply provides the platform to make sharing the love
seamless.
“Localist is the voice of the people it’s about popular opinion. Everyone can have their say,” adds Sayers Wickstead.
“And for those using the site to find out what to do, it’s like having that friend who is always up with the play and
knows where to go, wherever you go.”
Have fun, love local!
ENDS