The search continues for a site to launch a night market in Dunedin.
Dunedin Mobile Trading Association chairman James Chin, of Coolaz Events Catering, said the association had been searching for a site for food vendors to be part of a night market.
The search began in 2015, he said.
About 15 vendors were association members and were keen to be part of a market.
He believed there was an appetite for a night market in Dunedin.
The idea was to hold a market on a Friday night.
A market would ideally be held each month of the year, he said.
Vendors could sell most types of food, any time of the year, in Dunedin.
‘‘People buy shaved ice from me at the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival.’’
A potential issue for the market was an exodus of some vendors in summer, to attend events in Central Otago.
The association had explored holding a market in a covered parking building in Dunedin but the sites had to be struck off because of access issues.
Many of the vendors’ trucks and trailers were too big to enter the buildings, he said.
‘‘Getting in was impossible.’’
Many markets in Auckland were held in car parking buildings, which could accommodate bigger vehicles.
A covered site was needed for a night market in Dunedin.
‘‘There is nothing worse than holding a food market in the rain. No-one would come down.’’
Forsyth Barr Stadium had been explored as an option, he said.
Holding a market in the stadium could be problematic, as bookings could be cancelled if a bigger event wanted to use the space.
The Dunedin City Council had been supportive of a proposed market but the association would need to drive the operation, he said.
Among sites which had been explored and discounted were two council car parks.
One was situated between Crawford, Vogel and Water Sts and the other was on the site of the Otago Farmers Market.
Enterprise Dunedin economic development programme manager Fraser Liggett said Enterprise Dunedin was pleased with the night noodle market in January last year.
The market attracted 50,000 customers over five days, he said.
‘‘Enterprise Dunedin would be interested in looking at ways to support a similar event in the city again.’’
