Whanganui River Markets vendor Dan Hurley packs it in after 21 years

Dan Hurley, one of the founding vendors at the Whanganui River Markets, has decided to step away and sell goods from his house. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

The Whanganui River Markets’ longest-serving vendor, Dan Hurley, has stepped away after 21 years.

He was one of the founding vendors when the market on Moutoa Quay began in 2005.

Hurley sold plants throughout his time at the market and, at different times, also sold toys, books, candy floss, jewellery and more.

He began travelling the North Island selling goods in 1985.

He had injured his back while renovating his house and was put on ACC.

“I had to do something, so I packed the van up after I came right,” he said.

“We took off on a Friday night and went from one place to another.

“We travelled the country and the best I ever did was 1500 bucks in one day - that was good work.”

In the 1990s, he ran his own market, Everybody’s Market, at the top of Victoria Avenue for a year.

Hurley also set up his stall at various other markets in Whanganui and sold candy floss with his grandson when the PS Waimarie was restored to the water in 2000.

He said starting at the River Markets “just happened” and he could not recall whether organiser Annette Main had approached him or if it was the other way around.

Dan Hurley grows plants and herbs at his Aramoho property. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

Main said Hurley had become a “bit of a legend” at the market over two decades.

“He is just amazing with what he has done,” she said.

“It is going to be really strange not having his huge area of everything he had at his stall.

“We have rules at the market, we have to know what is on everybody’s stall, but we would never get that from him - it was so funny.

“It certainly kept him going for a long time, that is for sure.”

Hurley said his time as a vendor was enjoyable and praised the Whanganui community for its support over the years.

Hurley grows all his plants and herbs in his back garden and has a 17m water bore to help him water them each night.

He said the herbs sold particularly well.

“Herbs are good because they are medicinal things and people understand them,” he said.

He documented his days at the market in a diary to track what was sold.

“I used to write everything down for every single market,” he said.

“It was a bloody mission and a half.”

After 21 years, Hurley has decided to step away from the market.

“I hardly ever missed it ... I didn’t want to give it up,” Hurley said.

However, it was easier for him to run his business from the comfort of his home.

Hurley’s last market day was on March 21 and he has switched his focus to providing the same goods from his home on Lewis Ave in Aramoho.

“I plan on doing this for the rest of my life,” Hurley said.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.