Rain, wind hurt art markets

Wet weather and a wind tunnel have left stallholders questioning the future of the Artisans Markets and Fairs at the pedestrian "canopy bridge" at Whangarei's Town Basin.

Stallholders will meet to discuss the problems and venue options after last Artisans Market for the season next Saturday. It will be held at Forum North in conjunction with a creative sector symposium, Totems and Totara.

Some stallholders say they want to move back to the plaza between Whangarei's old and new libraries in Rust Ave or to Cafler Park.

But Whangarei District Council group manager Paul Dell said he hoped the markets would not "take the backward step" of leaving the Town Basin for a part of the city with fewer visitors. Traffic counts showed that since the revitalisation, which included the Victoria Bridge canopy, Sculpture Park and Heritage Trail, an average 100 more people on weekdays and hundreds during the weekend visited the Town Basin.

Approved stage two plans include a windbreak on the bridge.

"We know the weather has been against the markets and it has highlighted the need to proceed with those plans," Mr Dell said.

Market goers had problems with the wind funnelling down the Hatea River and up under the canopy sails. At times the wind was so strong stock and gazebos were damaged.

Artisans Market co-ordinator Kaari Schlebach said users had complained that the canopy poles and bridge pillars constricted space and traffic flow of foot traffic and the lack of public facilities.

Mr Dell said there were public toilets within a three minute walk from the bridge. Before the Artisans Market shifted to the bridge, the council agreed to install three-phase power on the city side, tie-down fixtures along the bridge and fresh water taps.

Considering the outdoor venue, it was the responsibility of market organisers and stallholders to ensure they had the right equipment, such as stable tents, Mr Dell said. The location was as good as any in New Zealand, despite some teething problems.

The windbreak will be a row of polycarbonate panels on the upstream side of the bridge that filtered rather than blocked the wind, and will cost between $160,000 and $180,000.

Ms Schlebach said the site had at first shown great potential and the problems were disappointing.

"There was no doubt the gala opening in Spring was fantastic, it was a beautiful day, the bridge is very attractive and we all felt great about the future of the markets and the venue," Ms Schlebach said.

A comprehensive timetable of markets and fairs had been planned for every Saturday and Sunday, Wednesday evenings and during the Whangarei International Rally and Easter. Those plans were ruined in one of the wettest summers on record and the markets reduced to Saturdays only.

"Half the ones we advertised were washed out and by the time the weather cleared up we'd given up," Ms Schlebach said.