Market forces claim popular trading place

As markets go, Papatoetoe's can't hold a 10c candle to its big brother, Otara, with its South Seas flavour, streets of vendor stalls and flocks of tourists.

In fact, at Papatoetoe it takes only 15 minutes to scan the stalls in the carpark behind the St George St shops.

There are no queues and one clothing stall holder still manages to smile after selling just two pairs of knickers in a morning.

But to the patrons yesterday morning, the market was their little taste of a cosmopolitan style of mixing socialising with shopping - bargains and banter.

Next Sunday, however, after 15 years, the market will be no more.

The licence of market operators Nita Knight and son Jason has expired and Manukau City Council refuses to renew it - on the recommendation of the Papatoetoe Community Board.

The market's closeness to the New World Supermarket and the mainstreet shops of old Papatoetoe has led to its downfall.

Supermarket operator Hamish Walton complained that the market deprived his customers of parking space.

The terms of the market's licence provided for a section of the carpark to be kept available for New World shoppers but it was often used by market traffic.

The Knights failed to get council approval for an alternative venue at the local licensing trust's tavern carpark.

They gave the bad news to stallholders and customers through a circular letter yesterday, saying it was disappointing to have to close a valued community asset, and that they hoped to find another venue.

That day cannot come soon enough for local resident Joyce McGarvey.

"I don't want to see this market go and I'm angry over what's happened."

An avid sifter through second-hand goods and recycler, she brings her plastic bags from home to give to stall-holders.

She confesses an ulterior motive - the school teacher of 24 years finds the market a perfect place to meet and greet her pupils' parents, who are shy about visiting her at her office.

She recalls how neighbours used the market over the years to sell their home-made apple pies, or bedcovers and cushions to raise money to put their children through the technical institute.

The market is a treasured weekly outing for nearby residents of homes for the elderly.

The board made its decision in September and would not be swayed even by a petition signed by 1000 market supporters.

Chairman Gary Troup said that complaints about the market had come from businesses other than New World.

"We have people in retail who are working very hard and somebody comes in for five hours on a Sunday and takes their cream."