Organisers of a long-running market series are opposing council plans to reduce their summer bookings for Mount Maunganui’s Coronation Park.

The Little Big Markets have the backing of a local business owner who says the events attract people to the area.

Others say the markets bring competition, traffic and parking problems for other stores.

Tauranga City Council wants to limit markets in Coronation Park to two weekends a month to balance demand for the space from other events.

Last summer, The Little Big Markets, which offers a range of food and retail stalls, were scheduled to use the park most weekends.

The change comes as the council seeks feedback on proposed changes to its policy on how council land is used.

Rachelle and Chris Duffy are the directors of community events The Little Big Markets, Dinner in the Domain and Tauranga’s Christmas in the Park.

Chris Duffy said The Little Big Markets had operated for 17 years, 13 of those at Coronation Park.

He said when they received their date allocations for Coronation Park for this summer, however, several peak-season weekends were marked unavailable.

The Little Big Markets directors, Chris and Rachelle Duffy.

They challenged this with the council, but Duffy said they were not offered alternatives – such as seeing if events could co-exist – or the usual process to resolve the conflict with other bookings.

He said they were told senior management had set the cap on markets.

Duffy said they were troubled by the lack of transparency or collaboration in the decision and how the priorities were set.

“We’re not asking for special treatment in isolation. But we do believe that 17 years of consistent, compliant and community-focused operation earns the right to be part of the conversation before decisions are made.”

Their submission on the draft policy called for decisions to be transparent, evidence-based and focused on community benefit, rather than commercial interests.

He said they felt a responsibility to respond to the changes, particularly a new requirement to consider existing rate-paying businesses when approving activities on council land.

They believed the drafted policy was inconsistent with the primary purpose of council land being for community use.

The Little Big Markets at Coronation Park in Mount Maunganui are popular with locals and visitors.

He said decisions to limit community activity should be supported by objective, verifiable data, “not just an assertion that something is operationally incompatible or that a neighbouring business feels disadvantaged”.

This could be done through an independent assessment, as well as regular monitoring of how high-demand spaces such as Coronation Park were performing.

Duffy said mixed opinions on the markets from main street businesses reinforced the need for independent data.

“That’s the pragmatic, fair approach we’re asking council to adopt.”.”

He said Coronation Park played an important role in community life and visitor experience, particularly with nearby cruise ships.

“For many international visitors, the market is the first authentic experience of local life.”

Electric Soul Tattoo and Gallery owner Kirky Donnelly said she strongly supported the markets.

Electric Soul Tattoo and Gallery owner Kirky Donnelly. Photo / George Novak

“The Little Big Markets bring people into the Mount who simply would not otherwise be here.

“During a period where many businesses are experiencing reduced trade [with Mauao tracks and other facilities closed] … that additional foot traffic is incredibly valuable.”

She said her business was “noticeably busier” on market weekends.

“Without the drawcard, many simply wouldn’t make the trip at all.”

She said claims the markets harmed local businesses did not reflect her experience.

She said the events supported small retailers, and many successful Mount businesses started as market stalls.

“It seems unfair to limit those opportunities for the next generation of small business owners.”

She said the loss of the Sunday farmers’ market reduced visitors to the Mount, and she feared having fewer Little Big Markets would have a similar effect.

Availability for other events

Art Body Creative Studio’s Julie Paama-Pengelly said she supported the community use of parks and was not averse to the markets.

She had struggled, however, to secure Coronation Park for events.

“I want to use the park for Māori-based, cultural events … but I struggle to find availability.

“I would like to see broader community representation rather than a business focus.”

Art Body Creative Studio's Julie Paama-Pengelly. Photo / Andrew Warner

She said sports, dance, cars, caravans, entertainment groups, cultural groups and council-driven events seem better suited to the remit of public spaces such as a park.

While the markets did not usually compete with her business, she said traffic and parking issues could deter customers.

Most Mount businesses were small, she said, and the market operated at a scale and frequency that threatened some, as everyone competed for weekend shoppers.

She said businesses with permanent storefronts should have a say on events regularly and directly impacting them.

She suggested scaling down the market offering or frequency may create a happier co-existence, and allow other events to become success stories, like the markets.

Balancing demand

Council operations and infrastructure general manager Reneke van Soest said there were 12 booking request clashes at Coronation Park over the upcoming 37-week events season.

She said that showed strong demand from other event organisers.

“Based on the data and policy principles, the council aimed to balance things by making room for a wide mix of events.”

She said sharing the space with markets was being explored where possible. The council also wanted to work with the markets to explore other venues.

Bookings were assessed against principles including community benefit, vibrancy, inclusivity and diversity, with commercial factors only applying where relevant.

She said the council used independent data to inform decisions on community or commercial use.

“Council land is primarily for community use, but commercial activities can still and often do provide public benefit.”

Tauranga Deputy Mayor and Mount Maunganui ward councillor Jen Scoular. Photo / David Hall

Mount Maunganui ward councillor and Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular said she had heard from many Mount businesses concerned about the frequency of use by the same user of Coronation Park.

She said one retailer liked having markets nearby, “but suggested there needed to be a balance to support both the brick-and-mortar businesses and the mobile businesses”.

She said it was also important to encourage diverse events to avoid the impression that Coronation Park was the home of a single event.

She had also met with The Little Big Markets “and recognise they have built up a business that creates vibrancy, supports a large number of small businesses, and attracts people to come into the Mount”.

“I know people love it when the markets are on.”

She said the policy was under review and one thing she would raise was the fee for use of council land.

She understood it cost little to use Coronation Park and believed the fee could better reflect the park’s value.

Van Soest said the fee varied. As a charity, The Little Big Markets paid the not-for-profit rate of $120 per market.

Public consultation on the draft Use of Council Land Policy 2026 will close on June 8.

Ayla Yeoman is a Local Democracy Reporting journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts majoring in communications, politics and international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.