Tauranga City Council is absorbing an outstanding bill of $4000 from a weekly night market after not hearing from its organisers for more than a month since it shut down citing being "upset" with the council.
The Tauranga Kiwi Night Markets opened on August 31, 2013, inside the Elizabeth St car park.
Transportation manager Martin Parkes said the council offered the use of the carpark for a one-month free trial, on the understanding that it would begin to recover council's costs once the trial period was over.
There were 10 night markets in total, including four free as part of the trial period.
"It is $400 per night to rent the carpark, which is cost recovery for electricity and parking building staff costs," Mr Parkes said.