Market makes a move for progress

Karen Cederwall wears the apron that her mother in law Sue Rauch started Market Central at Riverside Park 20 years ago.

Taupō’s popular weekly market has made a temporary move back to where it all began 20 years ago.

By Dan Hutchinson

The popular Sunday activity Market Central has been operating from Riverside Park for the last three weekends while major improvements are carried out at Northcroft Reserve.

A Taupō District Council spokesperson says the upgrade will provide a multipurpose space that can hold weekly markets and other events.

The upgrade will “improve the aesthetic”, minimise ongoing maintenance and avoid injury by improving ground conditions.

A footpath, irrigation, picnic table, drinking fountain and bike rack will be installed and some new grass will be laid.

Market Central operator Karen (Kaz) Cederwall says she has enjoyed being back at Riverside park for the past three weeks, especially because that’s where her mother in law Sue Rauch started the market 20 years ago.

Because Riverside Park is a little bit off the beaten track, it is more of a “destination market” but they have had huge support from stallholders and visitors.

“Riverside Park itself is stunning. So, it really is a market vibe down there, but Northcroft will be just as cool once we go back there.”

The foot traffic was churning up the ground a bit in winter at Northcroft Reserve, which in turn made it dusty in summer so it would be good once all the new paths and landscaping was done, Kaz says.

She says the market is growing in terms of stallholders and market goers and stallholders come from around the Waikato and Bay of Plenty to trade.

Kaz is also organising the Kinloch Market on Labour Weekend which is shaping up to be the biggest yet with more than 200 stalls on the Sunday.

Bands include The Blind Venetians, Skarpa Kazoo and Sonorous.

She will be holding the usual Market Central in Taupō on Saturday that weekend to accomodate the Kinloch market.