Takeaway outlets in the Bay of Plenty experienced a boom in spending during the recent long weekend.

Figures released by Paymark on this year's Queen's Birthday weekend show spending was up 14.5 per cent in the Bay of Plenty on the same three days the previous week.

Staff at Bob's Fresh Fish Market on Dive Crescent are experiencing an increase in patronage.

The Bay followed a nationwide spending increase with annual spending up 5.1 per cent in the last year. The biggest rise was the takeaway business that recorded an 11.8 per cent rise.
Bob Palmer, owner of Bobs Fresh Fish Market on Dive Crescent, says his outlet is experiencing an increase and recently opened a new store in Papamoa.
'The business has been going pretty good here and at the new store we opened at Papamoa Plaza two weeks ago,” says Bob.
'For $20 bucks you can feed the whole family, and that's what keeps people coming in.”
Bob says the majority of customers are returning elderly population, who appreciate the quality - and some travel quite a distance for it.
'I would say almost half of our customers are from the over 65 group, we get quite a few coming over from Matamata and the rest homes.”
'They like to sit along the tables by the waterfront, because my fish tastes best when fresh.”
The Paymark figures released yesterday show spending was up in most centres throughout NZ with Marlborough experiencing a 10.3 per cent rise, Gisborne up 8.5 per cent, and the Wairarapa up 8.1 per cent.

Paymark Head of Sales and Marketing Paul Whiston believes people were enjoying one last holiday before winter.

'This is perhaps an indication that Kiwis were enjoying their last break before the colder months set in,” says Paul.

'As many Kiwis look to take advantage of the long-weekend, spending growth tends to spread from a number of the main centres to some of the more typical holiday destinations.”