The decision has been made to not restart the Rotorua Farmers Market in 2022. Photo / Supplied
The decision has been made to not restart the Rotorua Farmers Market in 2022. Photo / Supplied
There will be no Rotorua Farmers Market for the rest of 2022.
The decision was made not to restart the market and instead to boost support and grow the two other markets already in action - the Rotorua Night Market and the North Kuirau Park Market.
Vendors who usually set up at the farmers market spoken to by the Rotorua Daily Post said they were "sad" it wasn't returning this year but were hopeful for next.
Rotorua Lakes Council arts, culture and mahi toi manager Stewart Brown said it was not an easy decision to make.
"We have a very loyal group of vendors and visitors who would attend the Rotorua Farmers Market every Sunday morning, so it was always going to be a tough decision.
"However, in weighing up the cross-over in audiences between markets it made sense to focus on the two markets already running, and support those vendors who haven't already moved to one or both of those markets."
Rotorua Night Market. Photo / Supplied
The Rotorua Farmers Market was closed in January 2022 when New Zealand went into red under the Covid traffic light system.
While the Rotorua Night Market returned to trade in April 2022, the decision was made to hold off restarting the Rotorua Farmers Market due to the difficulty in sourcing a good range of fresh produce during the winter months and maintaining a consistent level of vendors throughout the year.
The delay in restarting also gave the opportunity to review all of the markets in Rotorua, understand their offering, audiences and strengths, to ensure any additional market would be viable and fill any product gaps, the council said in a statement.
With complimentary markets already in place, the decision was made to not restart the Farmers Market, and to support vendors into joining the Rotorua Night Market (Thursday evenings) and the Rotary Club of Rotorua North Kuirau Park Market (Saturday mornings).
Kuirau Park manager Garry Adlam looked forward to working closely with the council to promote both markets to locals and visitors alike.
"We can't wait to welcome the new stallholders to the Saturday market. Established over 30 years ago, the Kuirau Park Market moved into a larger market area in November 2020 and has gone from strength to strength."
As well as supporting vendors in joining the Kuirau Park Market, stallholders will be offered discounted site rates to trial the Rotorua Night Market.
Plans have also begun to create a mini-market using the Farmers Market barrows in the centre of the Night Market footprint.
Kuirau Park Market. Photo / Supplied
The Rotorua Daily Post spoke to some vendors who were normally at the Rotorua Farmers Market.
Mon's Flavors co-owner Vishal Sharma said it was "very sad" the Farmers Market would not be returning this year.
"It is an event for the locals coming and spending time with their family and friends."
Sharma said he and his wife Monisha "love" the markets and never missed a Sunday. He was optimistic it would return next year.
He said they started going to markets in Tauranga, Hamilton and Cambridge when it stopped in January. They go to the Rotorua Night Markets but not the Kuirau Park market.
The Cotton Cupboard owner Sandie Lockett said she had not been at the Rotorua Night Markets or the Farmers Market since January.
"With petrol going up and living in Kawerau, it just seemed a bit far ... I'd actually thought that I would wait until the summer anyway."
Lockett said she understood why the market would not be back this year as it had been a "hard slog" for vendors and management.
She said she would not return to the Farmers Market if they brought it back, but would potentially return to the Night Market in the summer.
Mum's Kawakawa owner Monica Jenkins said she was at the Kuirau Park markets on Saturdays, but previously did the Farmers Market too.
