Night markets all about having fun

"I feel that it's great for the public and business owners to discuss any issues they have in the public arena", says Kim Renshaw.

This week's newsmaker is Kim Renshaw from Gourmet Night Markets. Her markets feature every Friday night in Coronation Park in Mount Maunganui, including an array of local and national stalls and eateries. Some nearby restaurant owners spoke out about the market this week, saying it was hurting their trade.

1 Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm Kim Renshaw. I'm 30 years old and I was born in Whakatane. I travelled the world and came to settle in Mount Maunganui a couple of years ago. I love surfing, long-boarding, riding my two cruiser bikes, yoga, long walks on the beach and living at the Mount. I love organising things and I am super passionate about this amazing place we live in. I am the founder of the Gourmet Night Market in Mount Maunganui and The Smoothie Club. I am a passionate blogger about health and owner of Kimmithgone Hempseed Oil.

2 How long have you been in the market business?

For the last two years I've been travelling the North Island, selling my hempseed oil and promoting making smoothies at home at markets. This is my first time "running" a market.

3 Why did you set up the Gourmet Night Markets? Did you see a demand or gap in the market industry down here?

During chats with others at the markets during 2013, I found a gap that I thought could be filled with a niche food-only market that centred around live music and sitting on picnic blankets on the grass. Eating and relaxing with family is a whole different event to shopping at a craft market and, once Coronation Park was developed, it seemed the perfect location for such an event.

4 The Gourmet Night Market has been in the media this week, what do you think of the controversy?

I feel that it's great for the public and business owners to discuss any issues they have in the public arena, but I wish the restaurateur who has issues and wishes to remain unnamed would speak with me so we could work on a solution.

5 What makes the Gourmet Night Markets?

The music, the grass space, the variety of foods, the crowd and the local component.

6 What benefit does the Gourmet Night Markets bring to the Mount and surrounding areas?

It provides a unique and stress-free, family-oriented environment where you can spend as little or as much as you want. It also provides an opportunity for the community to use the beautiful park, which until the markets was a hugely under-used space.

7 What is the most unusual thing you have seen in the markets over the last few weeks?

The group of people who brought two trestle tables, tablecloths, candelabrum and chairs to have a community pot-luck dinner. That and the couple who brought their backgammon last week, amazing and perfect!

8 What is your favorite thing about them?

My favourite thing is seeing smiles on everyone's faces - the crowd, the vendors, the waste volunteers, the musicians. It's so awesome to have created something which makes thousands of people smile.

9 If you had a stall at the Gourmet Night Markets what would you sell?

I do have a stall, it's Kimmithgone Hempseed Oil and Superfoods. You can taste my nutty and delicious New Zealand grown alternative to fish oil.

10 Gourmet Night Markets are set to end the end of February, what will you be doing the rest of the year?

This year I've just written and published a cleanse, so I'll be promoting that. I'll also be writing a Kimmithgone cookbook and I'll be running The Smoothie Club (which is like AA for health food nuts), and working on improving and re-inventing my online business. I guess I'll be a busy girl.