Key Takeaways
- The Rotorua Lakes Council is seeking expressions of interest for a new management team to take over the Rotorua Night Market, with a proposed three-year contract and an option for another three years.
- The council aims to reduce the market’s $200,000 annual cost to ratepayers and is considering 10 potential sites for the market, including its current location on Tūtānekai St.
- Vendors and business owners are suggesting ways to increase revenue, such as increasing the number of stalls and broadening the mix of vendors beyond food.
- The council’s decision on the future of the night market will be informed by investigation findings, which will be reported in late February.
- The expressions of interest process is part of ongoing investigations into the night market’s future, as directed in the 2025/26 annual plan.
Introduction to the Rotorua Night Market
The Rotorua Night Market has been a staple of the city’s entertainment scene for 15 years, attracting tourists and locals alike with its vibrant atmosphere and diverse range of food and craft stalls. However, the market’s future has been uncertain in recent times, with the council seeking ways to reduce its $200,000 annual cost to ratepayers. In an effort to find a solution, the council has put out a call for expressions of interest for a new management team to take over the market, with a proposed three-year contract and an option for another three years.
Set-Up and Breakdown
The proposed contract would require the new management team to take over complete control of the Rotorua Night Market, including set-up and breakdown, health and safety, vendor selection, revenue collection, promotion, administration, and growth. This would be a significant undertaking, requiring a high level of organization and attention to detail. The council is looking for a team that can not only manage the market’s day-to-day operations but also develop strategies to increase revenue and reduce costs.
Health and Safety Concerns
The council’s decision to move the market to Kuirau Park as a trial last October was motivated by health and safety concerns, including traffic management issues. However, the trial was abandoned in December after pushback from vendors and the public, and the market returned to its original location on Tūtānekai St on January 8. Despite this, the council has not committed to keeping the market at this location and is considering 10 potential sites, including two locations each at Government Gardens and Kuirau Park, carparks on Haupapa St, at the Energy Events Centre and on Lake Rd near the lakefront, as well as Memorial Plaza and the Village Green.
Vendor Selection and Revenue Collection
Vendors and business owners are suggesting ways to increase revenue, such as increasing the number of stalls and broadening the mix of vendors beyond food. Cowboy Roast House owner Farnoud Rahimi Mansour believes that the market could become self-sustaining if it were to increase its revenue streams. He suggests that the focus should be on maximizing the potential of the current site rather than moving it. "It’s not always about doing the easy thing to cut costs," he said. "We should look to make more money here." Reg Hennessy, owner of Hennessy’s Irish Bar on Tūtānekai St, agrees that the market has the potential to be a major drawcard for the city, but believes that the council could "invest a lot more" into the Tūtānekai St area.
Promotion and Administration
The council’s community experience group manager, Alex Wilson, said that the expressions of interest process was part of ongoing investigations into the night market’s future, as directed in the 2025/26 annual plan. "Investigation findings will be reported to council in late February to inform elected members’ decision-making on the future of the night market," Wilson said. The council is seeking a management team that can not only manage the market’s day-to-day operations but also develop strategies to promote the market and increase its visibility.
Growth and Development
The future of the Rotorua Night Market is uncertain, but one thing is clear: it needs to become more self-sustaining if it is to continue to thrive. The council’s decision to seek expressions of interest for a new management team is a step in the right direction, but it will require a significant investment of time and resources to get the market back on track. With the right management team in place, the Rotorua Night Market could once again become a vibrant and thriving part of the city’s entertainment scene, attracting tourists and locals alike and contributing to the local economy. The expressions of interest process is now open, with submissions closing on February 5.