The board’s commitment is clear, we stand with street vendors!
A hot topic in the community, made its way to the board’s September business meeting, which is open to the public, where the Ōtara Business Association (OBA) presented a petition to the board to not grant licences to the street vendors.
The view is that street vendors at Ōtara Town Centre are being accused of taking business away from legitimate shop owners who have higher costs and pay rates.
However, the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board is passionately dedicated to empowering street vendors in the area. Rather than having them removed which is the present scenario, the board has put a plan in place and is committed to see the entrepreneurs succeed.
Board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia says, “Our community is full of entrepreneurs, people with awesome ideas, families with histories of resilient work ethic. At times, we just need some help to take us to the next level, turn those ideas into business opportunities. We can grow our entrepreneurial spirit.”
The board has clarified that they do not have authority over license approvals, and that street trading is a legal activity permitted under Auckland Council regulations.
One notable case highlighted in local media is that of Sāmoan street vendor Simona Lautasi, who has been selling lamb buns (keke mamoe) at Ōtara Town Centre for the past year and a half. The Papatoetoe local, who lives with his daughter, sells these throughout the week.
Street vendor Simona Lautasi. Photo: Mary Afemata / LDR.
Lautasi mentions that he is saving the money to support his family both here and in Sāmoa.
OBA Chair Amit Narchal, present at the board meeting, expressed concern that street trading is 'causing significant harm to ratepayers' in Ōtara Town Centre, particularly affecting shop owners in the Council’s Business Improvement District (BID) programme.
“Shop tenants face heavy financial burdens from commercial rent, council rates, and other expenses. These legitimate businesses are struggling to stay viable while street traders, who avoid costs like rent, power bills, and targeted rates, compete directly with them,” says Narchal.
In response, Apulu shares, “Our goal is to see these vendors succeed in a legitimate way, providing stable income for their families and helping them build a better future. For them, it’s an honest day’s work and we want to support their efforts in a way that truly makes a difference in their lives.
“In Ōtara, many families are really on the breadline, facing immense financial pressure and daily struggles. We need to address these difficulties with compassion and the proper support.
“I am proud that this board has a plan in place, and we are committed to working together to create opportunities that enable our entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute positively to our community."
The plan to grow our entrepreneurial spirit
The board allocated leftover funds from last year's budget to create a program supporting vendors. Council officers are working to ensure these groups' licenses are up to date and exploring ways to further support their ventures.
The board is exploring the idea of partnering street vendors with Ōtara Kai Village (OKC) – a resident led initiative under The Community Builders NZ Trust - as a solution.
Leauanae Zeprina Fale, director of Bluespur Consulting Ltd, who help organisations engage with diverse Pacific communities and businesses, is working with street vendors to assess their situation and address any barriers to their trading.
“I'm now working with the Auckland Council Street trading team to identify what the barriers are, what are the concerns, why have these permits been declined in the past, and how can we work that through.”
The board extended an invitation to the OBA to collaborate more closely.
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