Potential for ‘market town’ in Canterbury

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Kaiapoi has the potential to become a ‘‘market town’’, a local business leader says.

The company behind the Christchurch Night Market at Hornby Mall has applied for a resource consent to establish and operate a night market in Kaiapoi.

Now, the Kaiapoi Promotions Association (KPA) hopes to see more markets in the future.

‘‘It is great that it is kicking off, we wish them every success,’’ acting chairperson Martin Pinkham said.

‘‘We always saw Kaiapoi as a market town and the retailers need something which draws people to the town.

‘‘The Lyttelton Farmers Market is great for Lyttelton and we would like to see something like that set up in Kaiapoi.

‘‘In the United Kingdom, the markets are big in towns of similar size to Kaiapoi.’’

Pinkham said KPA had made submissions to the Waimakariri District Council’s annual plan for several years advocating for a permanent site to be found to hold markets.

‘‘We would like to have a site which is easily accessible for people and could be used during the week.’’

The Kaiapoi Town Centre Development Plan, which was adopted in 2018, proposed a village green or market site, but a permanent site had yet to be found.

The weekly Kaiapoi Farmers’ Market is held on Saturday mornings on Charles St, opposite Kaiapoi New World, but the site is far from ideal, Pinkham said.

The annual Blackwells Fire and Ice Festival is held the Kaiapoi Club car park on Raven Quay on a Saturday evening to coincide with the Kaiapoi Art Expo in July.

Enterprise North Canterbury general manager Heather Warwick said Kaiapoi was becoming ‘‘a place of opportunities’’.

Projects such as a night market and the New Zealand Motorhome and Caravan Association’s park in the former red zone were helping to grow the town as a visitor attraction, she said.

The Waimakariri District Council granted a one-year licence to Market Investment Ltd in April to run a weekly night market in the Kaiapoi park and ride car park, next to New World.

Council staff will review the licence after six months to assess its impact on Kaiapoi’s existing hospitality businesses.

A resource consent application has since been received for a night market to be held on a Saturday or Sunday evening between 5pm and 10pm.

It is anticipated there would be up to 72 stalls, including mostly food trucks and stalls and some retail.

Live music would be played during the market.

■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.