The Whanganui River Markets have been canned for the next two weeks as organisers work out how to operate under the new rules of Covid-19 alert level 2.
Market convener Annette Main said the restrictions around customer capacity, how many market stalls they could have, distancing and monitoring compliance all factored in the decision to delay the return of the markets.
"It's usually such a large, loud and happy place, which locals love because they can mingle with their family and friends, gather on the riverbank to enjoy their time together, browse the stalls to find something they need or a special treat, chat to their favourite stallholders," Main said.
"We can only fit 20 stalls maximum. People can't stop and chat, it just doesn't feel like the markets. All you will be doing is grabbing what you want, and going. We didn't see that as the markets."
With about 120 stallholders generally at the River Markets, Main said choosing just 20 of them to operate wouldn't be fair.