Residents rally in support of market

PUBLIC SPEAKING: Mike Osborne of Carterton, at back, speaks to the crowd from the Toastmasters Soapbox.

A crowd of close to 100 people gathered to support the Carterton Farmers' Market at a picnic in Memorial Square on Sunday.

Organiser and market stallholder Kylie Mole said she was "very impressed with the number of people" that had turned out to the picnic.

The weekly market was formerly held on the road and footpath area at the southern end of the square - but after concerns from neighbouring business, the Buckhorn Bar and Grill, Carterton District Council asked for it to be restricted in both size and hours of operation, Mrs Mole said.

In response, organisers have temporarily closed the market and asked to be able to move it to the grass area of the square.

According to Mrs Mole, the council's original response was "a very firm no" - but it is now being reconsidered.

Mrs Mole moved to Carterton four years ago from Hamilton, and has been selling "upcycled" knickknacks at the market.

She created a Facebook page under the name Carterton Memorial Square Picnic, and said it got "100 likes in the first 12 hours".

"Facebook is an amazing tool for spreading information," she said.

One picnic-goer and Farmers' Market stallholder, Vaughan Paul of Pawlonia Estate Vineyard, said the amount of support from others besides stallholders at the picnic is "a good indication of the community buy-in" for the market itself.

Jan and Stuart Abernathy of Lavender Abbey in Dalefield, which also has a stall at the market, were also pleased with the number of people who had turned up.

The couple had brought along their two Briard dogs, Lily and Remy.

"We're here to support the market," Mr Abernathy said.

"It's a good turnout."

Toastmasters member Mike Osborne had brought the "Carterton Soapbox" along, and stood to speak.

Mr Osborne used the occasion to both express his support for the market, and to invite people to consider coming to a Toastmasters meeting.

Live music and balloon animals featured at the event, as well as a few caravans selling coffee, icecream and fresh berries.

Council will vote on the market's location on Wednesday.