28 February 2020
Media: Rotorua Weekender
Topic: Rotorua Night Market's 10th anniversary
Enquiry
I'm getting in touch as I saw on Facebook today that the Rotorua Night Market is turning 10 next Thursday and thought it could be an interesting story for next week's Weekender with a bit of background on the market, how it's evolved/grown etc.
Would it be possible to get a few comments from an appropriate person to the following questions?
- How/why did the Rotorua Night Market start?
- What was it like in its first year compared to how it is now going into 2020?
- How does it feel to be celebrating the market's 10th birthday on Thursday?
- What have been some of the highlight events throughout the years as part of the Rotorua Night Market?
- What's the best/most rewarding thing about putting on this market each week?
- Are there any plans or goals for the market in the near future?
- Are there any stall holders which have been a part of the market for whole 10 years?
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response
From Brigitte Nelson, Rotorua Lakes Council, Manager Markets and Festivals:
How/why did the Rotorua Night Market start? The Rotorua Night Market was created to add vibrancy and life in the heart of Rotorua. Rotorua Lakes Council worked alongside the Heart of Tūtānekai Group to develop the market with inspiration gathered from all around the world.
What was it like in its first year compared to how it is now going into 2020? With three months to prepare, the very first Rotorua Night Market opened on 6 March 2010 with 24 stall holders and taking up one block of Tūtānekai Street (between Haupapa and Pukuatua Streets).
With a busy summer ahead and with the market at full capacity, the decision was made to extend the market to cover two blocks in November 2015. With the market stretching from Haupapa Street to Hinemoa Street the ability to provide more stallholder sites matched with seating, tables, activities and entertainment meant more people were coming and staying for longer. Today the market averages more than 65 stall holders each week over the peak summer season
How does it feel to be celebrating the market's 10th birthday on Thursday? Reaching this milestone makes you reflect on how hard so many people work each week to keep this market hopping. Our market operations team and VR Security work long hours to set up and pack down the market, our wonder stallholders turn up week after week and local performers entertain the crowds. Behind the scenes we have a great team providing marketing, admin and maintenance, and of course a market wouldn't be anything without our locals and visitors coming down, some every week, to enjoy the atmosphere and support our vendors.
What have been some of the highlight events throughout the years as part of the Rotorua Night Market? We have hosted countless cultural groups over the years who celebrate and share their festivals and traditions with our community. They light up the market with traditional music, dance, food and storytelling. The cultural calendar includes so many great events - Diwali, Chinese New Year, Filipino Festival just to name a few. And festival or not, each week marketgoers get to enjoy cuisines from all around the world thanks to our outstanding vendors from Japan, Thailand, Korea, Spain, China, Philippines, South Africa, Italy and more.
What's the best/most rewarding thing about putting on this market each week? It is a real community, both within all the vendors and operations team and with the regular market visitors. I love seeing small family businesses succeed. We have had many new migrant families that started at the market and really found a place for themselves within the market family.
Are there any plans or goals for the market in the near future? We are extending the canopy of lights to cover Tūtānekai Street between Pukuatua and Hinemoa Streets, matching what is already in place from Haupapa to Pukuatua Streets. Our wonderful Night Market sponsors Unison have just funded new branded tents so the market is going into its 10th year looking very smart. With the additional space now available within Te Manawa we have the flexibility to provide extra space for special events and activities.
Are there any stall holders which have been a part of the market for whole 10 years? Yes we have many loyal stallholders that have stayed with us from the beginning including Guidoughs Bakery, Rosco's Coffee, New Zealand Crepes, Mussel Madness, Amazing Thai, Himalayan NZ, Treats, Woodcraft and Uno World. Guido now owns two baking premises as well as attending both the Night Market and Farmers Market each week - a fantastic success story.
Is there anything else you would like to add? We were humbled to receive the Excellence in Event Hospitality Award at the 2018 Rotorua Hospitality Awards.
