Rotorua Night Market’s return date to CBD announced

The Rotorua Night Market will return to the city centre in January.

Elected members last week voted eight-to-three to return the market to its previous Tūtānekai St location “as soon as reasonably practical” after a trial move to Kuirau Park.

Today the council announced the first market back in the inner city would be on January 8.

“It takes a while to co-ordinate with stakeholders and contractors to arrange logistics around a smooth transition back – especially over this busy festive season – so the weekly markets will remain in Kuirau Park this December,” the council said on social media.

The council decided prior to the election to begin the trial in October, aiming to save money, enable earlier summer trading, and address health and safety concerns.

A motion to end the trial was brought by councillor Robert Lee at the December 10 council meeting, who said the results of the Kuirau Park trial were “manifestly obvious” and described it as “not a success”.

He said returning to the inner city would help businesses regain tourist foot traffic and after-work customers.

A draft report on the trial is due at the council’s first meeting of 2026 in February, but councillors opted to act before receiving it.

Mayor Tania Tapsell, Deputy Mayor Sandra Kai Fong and councillor Karen Barker voted against the motion.

– Additional reporting by Mathew Nash at Local Democracy Reporting