Night market for Rotorua

Matthew Martin | 5th February 2010

Tutanekai St will soon host a new "boutique" night market in the hope it will draw visitors and locals into the central city at night.

The Rotorua Night Market will get under way on Thursday, March 4.

Tutanekai St, between Pukuatua St and Haupapa St, will be closed to vehicles from 3pm to 10pm every Thursday.

The market will operate between the hours of 5pm and 9pm for three months after which the concept will be reviewed and a decision made whether to continue during the winter months.

The Rotorua Night Market is a joint effort between the Rotorua District Council and the Heart of Tutanekai Street Group, a collection of businesses operating within the central city block.

Destination Rotorua Economic Development manager Grant Kilby said it was an exciting concept that would offer a wide range of upmarket boutique stalls set up under marquees and would compliment the pedestrian-only Eat Streat concept.

"It will inject some enthusiasm into the city and give our tourists more to do while in town.

"We hope other businesses in the surrounding area will get behind it and stay open late as well," Mr Kilby said.

He said 30 stalls would operate in the precinct and apart from shopping, there would be entertainment, such as cooking demonstrations, and the promotion of events coming to the city.

The Rotorua District Council's Works Committee passed a recommendation this week to approve the weekly road closures. However some councillors said the move should have occurred at the start of summer.

Councillor Geoff Kenny said: "I thought it would be logical to start in November and I can't see it running over winter but I'll certainly support it."

Owner and director of Serious Fun and Heart of Tutanekai Street Group member, Derek Enright, said the success of the venture relied on Rotorua's residents and businesses and he hoped they would get behind the concept.

"It's an absolutely great thing for the central business district, not just for our block but for the whole city," he said.

"Our group is 100 per cent behind it and will be open the same hours as the market."

Mr Enright said concepts such as a night market needed community support and the city had to give it time to be successful.

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Roger Gordon said he was very supportive of the idea and said it could only be a good thing for Rotorua's businesses.

"If it's successful then it will hopefully become a feature in Rotorua."