Lawyers called in over rival markets

The organisers of New Plymouth’s most popular weekend market called in the lawyers after a rival market set up with a similar sounding name.

The Seaside Market, which runs at Nga¯ motu Beach on the first Sunday of each month from November to April, has been operating for four years. It is so popular the most recent market caused a two hour traffic jam as people tried to get in and out.

It features art and craft, food stalls and live music.

There is now another market in the area that operates on the third Sunday of each month. This market was initially called the Seaview Market, a name which the organisers of the Seaside Market found too close for comfort.

Zoe Harris, founder and operator of the Seaside Market, said she found it ‘‘unbelievably audacious’’ and called in the lawyers.

‘‘We have the naming rights for the Seaside Market,’’ she said. ‘‘Seaside and seaview in the same location - that was misleading for the public,’’

The market has since changed its name to Oceanview to avoid confusion, and moved in across the road.

Harris said she couldn’t comment on the Oceanview market because she had never attended it, but said she had been shocked when it began.

She said New Plymouth did ‘‘definitely not’’ need another beach market.

‘‘Why would you do that? There’s only so many people in New Plymouth.’’

But she isn’t too worried about the competition.

‘‘The Seaside Market’s a really big strong brand now and I’ve spent four years building that brand. It would take a long time for anyone to get close to that.’’

The manager of Oceanview Market declined to comment despite several requests.

Marianne Loveridge who runs the Mill Market on Saturday mornings in the carpark behind the Mill on Powderham St, said their market was not really affected by those in Nga¯ motu because they were more of a car-boot market.

‘‘People go from one to the other anyway,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s probably good that people can go and see different ones.’’

‘‘I think it just depends on what people are doing on the day.’’

Bruce Miller, a trustee of the Farmers’ Market, which runs on Currie St on Sundays, said there was always room for more.

‘‘There seems to be no limit to the number of markets people will come to,’’ he said.

‘‘I think the people themselves decide whether or not there are too many markets. There seems to be insatiable demand for these kind of events.’’

The Farmers’ Market had their own niche, he said.

‘‘We have a particular profile to promote the local producers of food for the Taranaki community. Some of our people do take part in other markets and that’s just fine.’’

New Plymouth District Council chief operating officer Kelvin Wright said having a variety of markets and other activities added to the vibrancy of city living.

While commercial trading sites have exclusivity and paid for the privilege, the Nga¯ motu Beach Reserve was an event site, not a commercial one.

‘‘Any person can book the site when it’s available and as long as any activity complies with the site’s booking criteria, for instance that the activity suits the space and that it won’t be operating daily, it can be booked with the payment of a minimal booking fee.’’

‘‘It is the public who will determine the ongoing success of any event on this site,’’ he added.