Paraparaumu Beach Saturday morning market needs to relocate

The popular and long-standing Paraparaumu Beach Saturday morning market needs to relocate.

Market co-owner Warwick Halcrow said two land titles that go out to Marine Parade through the middle of the market area had been sold to a development company.

He had spoken to someone from the company who had told him it wouldn't be until the end of the year when any work might start.

A survey of businesses in the area as well as a public petition was showing a lot of support to keep the market in the beach area.

And the Paraparaumu Raumati Community Board has backed the market's retention at the beach and has asked council to facilitate the process of relocation.

"First of all we want to garner public support so the council clearly understands that the people want it there, we want it there, the business community wants it there," Mr Halcrow said.

"The next thing would be how can we make this work?"

Whatever site or sites were chosen it was likely the market would have to be on council property.

"We're going to have to go through the processes with them."

Some of the options being mooted included Maclean Park, though Mr Halcrow noted the area could be tricky "without some sort of shelter arrangement".

"Using the park on a good day would be fabulous, but on a bad day not so good."

Another option was closing part of Maclean St.

"Now is an opportunity to discuss the street.

"Can it [the street] be incorporated into what we do or not?

"If it can how do we make it work for the businesses as well as stallholders so every is happy?

"We do have a good relationship with the business community at the beach and I think we can all get on the same page."

The right solution would be found.

"We will get there.

"I'm very confident."

Mr Halcrow was grateful for the "strong groundswell of local support that we've had".

"And a lot of people recognise the market's significance not just as a place to buy and sell stuff, but a place to meet, social activities to occur, and for people to promote their causes and raise funds for things."

The market has about 40 to 50 stallholders on average each Saturday morning.

"We're very fortunate.

"We have a great core group of really good people who are very good producers of what they do."

Mr Halcrow dispelled a rumour that the market was closing down.

"It is not.

"The worst that could happen is that it moves away from Paraparaumu Beach.

"We've had a couple of offers of locations but they're not at the beach where we've traditionally been for over 18 years."