Punanga Nui Market is launching promotions to help vendors affected by construction and is contacting vendors about rent payments and inactivity.

Punanga Nui Market and Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) management are acutely aware of the impacts and disruptions caused by construction works currently taking place at the market.

With that in mind and to assist vendors in the Eatery Area at Punanga Nui Market (PNM), who have been impacted by the stage one construction works of Te Tau Papa o Avarua Phase 1 Project, two initiatives are being launched to promote additional sales activity.

Firstly, a draw is being held for those who dine or shop at any of these huts and to encourage others to do the same, this will run for the next eight weeks.

PNM assistant manager Christine Eldridge says there will be some great prizes up for grabs.

“Print your name on the entry form and be in the draw to win prizes (prizes vary and will include free coffee, top ups, gift cards and much more up to the value of $100).”

Raffles will also be drawn every Saturday morning, she says.

The second initiative, which is due to start on Wednesday, June 19, is a fortnightly mini-night market for the Eastern Eatery Vendors. 

A festive atmosphere will be set up with entertainment and a sheltered dining area, to entice patrons to dine-out at the venue on these nights.

In other matters at the PNM, specific to the reorganisation project is understanding what hut space is available to relocate or reposition priority vendors to. 

CIIC chief executive officer Allan Jensen says a lot of ongoing market policy work has been undertaken in relation to vendor management, protocols and current vendor movement.

There is also a growing waiting list of persons who are seeking presence at the market and to occupy hut.

Following a thorough stocktake and investigation, CIIC and PNM will be contacting a number of hut vendors in the near future, Jensen says.

CIIC and the PNM will be sending letters to hut vendors who have overdue sums and will require their outstanding sums to be paid within a month, or for them to forfeit their tenancy at the market.

A small number of letters will also be issued to hut vendors who have paid their fees but have been closed for an extended period. It is requested that they become active vendors, or forfeit their tenancy at the market.

Lastly, CIIC and the PNM will be issuing a number of letters to hut vendors who have been inactive and who also owe money; providing grounds for their tenancy at the market to be forfeited.

“Addressing hut vendors that owe the market significant sums as well as being inactive is really important at this time.  There is a large waitlist of people interested in occupying a hut space, willing to open throughout the week and eager to contribute to the vibrancy of the market,” Jensen says.

• Jaewynn McKay/CIIC