The Queenstown Lakes District Council has decided to prohibit food stalls along the Queenstown lakefront, aiming to address public health concerns, litter issues, and obstruction of footpaths.
This decision builds on a year-long trial ban in the town centre, which had limited success due to ongoing violations and resistance from some vendors, as reported by council staff.
Monitoring by the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) revealed frequent occurrences of six to 22 stalls within a 150-metre stretch of the lakefront, despite a requirement for a 50-meter separation between stalls.
Council staff cited traders as problematic due to unpleasant smells, litter, and clutter.
All nine pop-up food stalls inspected by the council last year were found to have basic safety deficiencies, including inadequate hand-washing facilities, poor temperature control, and insufficient food storage.
Police were called during the last New Year’s Eve celebrations after several traders displayed “severe and unnecessary aggression” when asked to vacate event zones, according to council staff.
Business leaders presented evidence to the council showing fat residue and oil stains damaging the streets, while the Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce and Hospitality New Zealand argued that unregulated stalls posed unfair competition to fixed-premise businesses.
The trial ban initiated in April last year involved halting the issuance of new permits, although existing traders were allowed to operate until their permits expired.
Council staff reported ongoing illegal trading, with new operators lacking permission to trade on the waterfront and existing traders ignoring the ban.
Stallholders push back
At today’s council meeting, several stallholders urged a reconsideration of the ban.
Oyster stallholder Poppy Prentice expressed concern about the significant impact on traders.
“Some of the current rules, like the 50m spacing and moving around every hour, are simply not workable in practice. This isn’t about refusing to follow rules. We’re asking for practical, fair ones that can realistically be met.
“We’re also prepared to pay fair market value and an appropriate permit fee. We want to operate within a system that is fair, transparent and sustainable for everyone.”
Long-time restaurateur and food-stall operator Graeme McCarthy argued that food carts had been a part of the town for decades and that the ban was unjust.
He mentioned that his food cart was promoted on YouTube and TikTok to an audience of over 1 million subscribers.
“They come to Queenstown because they see the beautiful scenery behind our cart,” he said.
“Food vendors do create jobs in Queenstown and spend money locally. Removal of waterfront vendors just adds to this increasing commercialisation and loss of local character in the town.”
Councillors all in favour of ban
However, councillors unanimously endorsed the ban.
Heath Copland acknowledged enjoying the atmosphere brought by the stallholders but supported the council staff’s recommendation.
“I like the entrepreneurial spirit they bring. That, notwithstanding though, I do have to trust the staff here.”
Councillor Samuel “Q” Belk noted that some businesses pay rates, insurance, and other charges to operate on the waterfront, whereas pop-up vendors do not.
“I think we need to look at the equity between the two business models.”
Councillor Niki Gladding backed the ban as a means to “solve a problem that has not been solved by any other means” but emphasized the council’s responsibility to find a better long-term solution.
“The issues down there are not going away. This does temporarily relieve us of them. We have the review of the [activities in public places] bylaw coming up, which I think we know needs to be looked at.”
The new measures extend the temporary ban beyond the lakefront to nearby streets, as well as lengthening its duration.
The ban takes effect on April 17 and will remain until the next formal review of the activities in public places bylaw, planned for July.
According to council staff, the number of registered traders for the lakefront is declining, with only nine expected to operate there by next month.
