Market in strife after complaint

Devonport shop owners have moved to stop the activities of a small craft market which they say is "poaching" their customers.

But the people behind the monthly market in a community hall, which attracts about 1000 people, say it is good for the area.

Market manager Chris Sutton said she was mystified by the reaction. "The way I look at it is, any activity in Devonport will pay off at some point in time." The row erupted after signs - "Proud to be handmade New Zealand" - giving the location of the market "proud to be handmade New Zealand", were removed by the North Shore City Council after complaints from local business owners.

Sales are now so bad that the Sunday market, which has been running for almost 10 years, may shut down.

In January this year a similar incident occurred. The Papatoetoe markets were closed because a New World supermarket complained it used customer parking.

Mrs Sutton said she was "devastated" because people didn't know the market on Clarence St was there.

Thirteen signs, which Mrs Sutton had intended to take them down at the end of the day, were removed in April.

"It's had quite a substantial effect on the market - we're not getting as many people. We're not sure it will go ahead next year."

Devonport business association spokesperson Peter Raos said he had nothing against the market but complained because the signs were illegal. He said the market took up parking and marketing space for other businesses.

"She comes here once a month and puts up illegal signs ... there's a bit of poaching going on." Mr Raos said the market's sales drop could not be attributed only to the signs. "It's been a slow winter".

But woodturning stallholder Mike Lewis disagrees. He has traded there for four years and said his sales had dropped 50 per cent. "If the local shops cannot take six hours of competition, then something's wrong."

Mr Raos said recent council reviews of the bylaw on signs had sparked the complaint. "The council have compounded the problem by going after our signs."

Devonport Community Board Chairman Mike Cohen said placing signs on public property was illegal.

"If no one complains about it, everyone can turn a blind eye, but as soon as you have someone ringing you, you're obligated to do something."