Landmark Takapuna market closing in August

Takapuna’s popular Sunday market will be held for the last time in its current large format on 27 August.

Long-standing operators Trish Keith and Ess Jenner have decided against renewing their lease for a new reduced space to the southern end of the old central car-park site and on public space leading off it to Hurstmere Rd

“The main reason is it would be very difficult to manage,” Keith told the Observer. “It’s very sad.”

Auckland Council property arm Eke Panuku showed them several weeks ago the proposed new site in the town square it is developing. They declined the offer to take it up under new conditions, informing stallholders last week.

Keith said stallholders would lose the ability to operate from their vehicles. This would make things tricky for the likes of big fruit-and-vegetable and flower sellers. Access to unload goods before the market started would be via a service lane beside the cinema. Traffic management for this would likely require the women to employ staff to cope, she said.

The shift is needed to free up the northern end of the site for private redevelopment.

Keith said Eke Panuku told them the new site would fit around 84 stalls, down from around 130 they have currently – already reduced from 200-plus due to site works.

Eke Panuku plans to seek permission of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board at its June business meeting to call for expressions of interest for new market operators.

“We recognise the Takapuna Sunday market is an important and valued part of the community and as such there has always been provision for a market in the planning and construction of Waiwharariki Anzac Square,” a spokesperson said.

Not for us... Trish Keith and Ess Jenner are exiting the market

Keith remembers early opposition from locals to what is now an institution, attracting many regulars and visitors to the area.

“We probably bring more people to Takapuna on a Sunday morning than are there all week, to be honest,” she said.

It began as a flea market in Shore City’s car park in 1987, spilling onto streets, before moving to the central car-park. Covid restrictions closed it for five months, but it has bounced back.

Ess and her husband, Bruce, were the founders, with Trish and her husband, Fred, joining them two years later. Both of the women are now widows, and after 34 years of working together and with both now living out of Auckland, Keith says maybe it is time for a rest from early starts every Sunday.

A few stallholders have been with them from the start. Goodbyes would be tough.

Eke Panuku’s spokesman said: “It’s an end of an era for sure, but they will be there for the next couple of months.”

Extra estuary effort

Milford residents are seeking volunteers to join them in pulling on the gumboots to get among the mangroves for another working bee in the Wairau Creek and Estuary. The latest post-flood rubbish clean-up will take place this Saturday 17 June from 11am. If you can spare a couple of hours, gather on the beach in front of the Craig Rd toilet block. Bring gardening gloves if you have them.

Constable’s patch grows

Takapuna community constable Brent Stewart is covering for the Devonport area as well while Devonport’s constable, Glenda Peri, works in investigations for several months. She returns to her local role in August. A police spokesman said another North Shore community constable would help Stewart with the peninsula from late June.

Tax case stayed

An application by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue to put KBS Construction Ltd, which is building the Amaia apartments project on Esmonde Rd, into liquidation was discontinued at the High Court at Auckland last Friday. A court registrar confirmed the two parties had come to an arrangement.

Consultation open

Public consultation is open until 21 June on Takapuna Boating Club’s plans to lease out parts of its heritage Bayswater building for commercial use. Auckland Council staff are holding a drop-in session for people wishing to find out more at the clubrooms, 17 Sir Peter Blake Pde, Bayswater, on Thursday, 15 June from 5-7pm. Feedback can be given online via the council’s ‘Have your say’ page.