To market, to market, the hub of the community

• Published date: 24 May 2023
• Publication title: Kapiti News

The market, which runs from 7.30am to 12.30pm every Saturday, is popular, with stallholders coming from all over Kāpiti, and even further, to attend

It was established in November 1999 by Kevin Jones and his co-manager, who has since resigned from the role.

Warwick Halcrow joined Kevin in 2006 after they met at the market when Warwick was running a stall selling hand-printed silk ties.

Originally, the market was where The Pier apartments now stands, but is now in its fourth year in Maclean St.

While the two come from different backgrounds, they share a love of the market.

Kevin was born and raised in Kāpiti. He now has a career in social work, and is a youth tutor, working with young people from all over the district — all while being a single father.

Warwick is from Christchurch and has a background in journalism, but has owned the Barista Boys coffee cart in Waikanae with his wife for the past 17 years.

The market is like a second job for them.

Kevin arrives about 5.30am every Saturday, and Warwick is usually not far behind.

Warwick said they do a lot more than other markets, and make an effort to help people set up their stalls, unpack their cars, and manage the street closure.

Traffic management is a big part of what they do. They have to have everything packed up by 1pm so that traffic can resume as normal.

Kevin’s dedication to the market has always been strong.

When the market first started, he said he used to go around the district putting signs up early in the morning, and would then go take them all down in the afternoon.

They run the market “rain, hail or shine”, said Kevin, and have only ever had two occasions where the market wasn’t run, not including the mandatory Covid lockdown.

They have about 50...