Pipi Harvesting

We also went to hunt for pipi and cockles at the beach during low tides. Pipi is a local shellfish which is very much similar with our lala, but the pipis here is so much more tasty and the texture is chewy. To collect pipis, you need to go to the popular pipi spot/bed beach during low tide and dig the sand and feel for pipis. You’ll need to go at least knee deep in the water (yes, during low tide) and start digging. The bigger ones are usually in deeper water. Just dig under the stones especially and you’ll get plentiful easily.

You must go on clear days when the water is clean and calm for best result. Normally you will see the locals collecting pipis too. If you went to the right place and see no one, means it’s not a good time as there will be people collecting all the time. Ask the locals for the best spot (in our case it’s in Waiotahi Beach or the Ohiwa Beach). In fact, there’s a signboard confirming the pipi beds too. Per person you can collect 150 pipis and cockles a day. These is quite a big amount already. Only collect the bigger ones and leave the smaller ones back on the water to ensure the ecosystem is not harmed.

For cockles, you practically can find it littered on the beach. You’ll only need to go ankle-deep in the water to find it hidden in the sand. The bigger ones usually is hidden most deep inside the sand.

The cockles here are white fleshed, not red like what we had back at home. It’s still pretty tasty but I kinda prefer the ones we had back at home. Godzilla totally don’t fancy it as pipis are her favourite.

While harvesting pipis, we have to go in the water which is pretty cold. At the same time, we need to brace the winds that keeps blowing. Well, we are at the beach so definitely there’ll be winds but cold wind and cold water is really a challenge to your immune system.

The first time we went to harvest pipis, the wind was really cold and strong and Twister was not in her best state so we decided not to go in the water. But Dinosaur and Godzilla were really gung-ho to harvest pipis hence they went and harvest pipis while we wait at car. The weather was sunny but don’t underestimate the wind man! The wind will really freeze you to your bone!

After the harvesting, Dinosaur immediately felt a little unwell. I guess the heroic attempt at pipi harvest bare-chested is not without consequences. Luckily he recover fast enough after a nap.

The second time pipi harvesting, me and Twister decided to wet our feet and go in the water this time as we probably won’t be doing this anymore because the weather has turn colder day after day. The very next day I felt sick. I knew it then that I had caught a cold. Darn!

Thank god I recover the next day after taking medication. It would definitely be so unwise to fall sick and jeopardizes my work at the packhouse. I would hate to miss a work day and thus missed the pay cheque as well.

Since all these shellfishes are embedded in the sand, we had a hard time trying to clean it and

clear the sand away. This is mostly my job, but even after rinsing it in fresh water and changing water numerous time, there’s still sand in it! Gosh! How do you clean it???