Farmers Market Taranaki Trust
Our non-for-profit market formed in 2005 and is built around the words "By Taranaki, for Taranaki". We aspire to be a thriving market where locals and visitors can attend and support vibrant Taranaki local small businesses. Fostering community with locally grown and made food is at the heart of what we do.
Click the arrows below to view a summary of the key aspects of the Farmers Market Taranaki Trust Charter:
Aims
Facilitate the formation of a network of producers and consumers of primary produce in Taranaki.
Provide an easily accessible and affordable infrastructure for both consumers and producers in a central location in Taranaki on a regular basis.
Support the viable and self sufficient operation of existing and future producers, small businesses and cottage industries in Taranaki.
Promote, support and further the rapport and understanding between local producer and consumer in Taranaki by means of information, education and needs evaluation and by working closely with local authorities.
Provide the Taranaki community with locally grown and produced wholesome food at market related prices.
Mission
Our mission is to support and stimulate profitable trading and business growth of independent primary producers, hobby farmers, community and home gardeners, and associated produce value-adders and cottage industries.
To provide customers with regular supplies of fresh local food and access to improved nutrition.
Community Values
Farmers Market Taranaki aims to be an integral part of the Taranaki Community and strives to provide various local benefits, including:
Food and nutrition education
Regeneration of community spirit
Rural/urban linkages
Facilitation of community based food security programs
Recycling of green waste and appropriate packaging
OUR TRUSTEES & STAFF
Chairman
Jules Costello
Jules van Costello is the owner and winemaker of organic urban winery Known Unknown and wine bar House Wine. He is passionate about growing small food and drink businesses and offers marketing and social media support to a range of clients around New Zealand. As well as being a Trustee of the Taranaki Farmers Market he is also involved with organising Feastival, Taranaki's local food festival which is held twice yearly.
@thewinejules instagram.com/thewinejules
knownunknownwine.co.nz
makermarketing.co.nz
Treasurer
Raine de Vaan
Treasurer of the Farmers Market; Raine is an accountant in the business advisory team at Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Taranaki, who has a special interest in charitable reporting and community-driven social programmes.
Born to Dutch immigrants and raised in rural Aotearoa, she holds a strong connection to the Taranaki region and its people. Raine is passionate about strengthening local economies, supporting sustainable food chains, and fostering well-connected communities. She believes the Farmers Market is an essential third-space for Ngāmotu (New Plymouth), a space where locals can regularly come together over kai and conversation.
Raine is committed to the financial stewardship of the market and ensuring that the space remains inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.
Secretary
Mary Sagen
Mary is committed to advocacy, community development and education, and training. In her last position as Placement Support Coordinator for Chamber Hub, a contract role she performed from 2021 until 2025, she provided individualised and appropriate help for hundreds of job seekers to sustain them through what is not always a straightforward process.
As this was a government funded contract, it required copious data entry, record keeping, and reporting functions. As Board Secretary for FMTT, Mary will utilise these strengths in capturing and relaying information.
Starting in 2019, Mary committed herself to growing food in her backyard and in 2021 and 2023 hosted Sustainable Backyard Trails to share her journey with others. In 2025, Mary completed the Organic Primary Production Level 4 course at WITT to continue building on her passion for horticulture, and eating and sharing homegrown kai.
She views the Farmer’s Market as an essential 3rd space where people can relax, socialise, and build community. For her personally, the market fosters a sense of belonging.
Board Member
Aydan Mitchell
Board Member
Pamela McLoughlin
Pam is our Tang.E.Tea Lady, she LOVES tea! Like a lot of Pam grew up on good ol’ Builders Tea, but found out a few years ago the there is so much more to tea than that. After some health hurdles arose, a caring friend gave her a Scoby and introduced her to the wonderful world of Kombucha, a.k.a fermented tea. She was hooked from the first batch.
Not only did it taste out of this world, but it was full of probiotic goodness and her gut told to keep on brewing. She has since been brewing away in her ‘Home Sweet Home’ kitchen, creating “Tang.E.Tea Fermentory’, learning the science and perfecting the art.
Her and her husband Dave, the bestowed helpful ‘cart horse’ lovingly tows bottles of kombucha every Sunday, sharing the joy of Kombucha and their beautiful botanical flavours for our community enjoy. Pam loves to chat with her valued customers and sharing the joy of yummy-tummy drinks with us all. She is a wonderful addition to our board team and offers creative and constructive feedback as a regular stall holder.
Market Coordinator
Siobhán Hemingway
Siobhán is a web & graphic designer with a passion for gardening and local food systems.
From a young age, she cultivated a deep appreciation for the important role that food plays in our wellbeing. Experience with chronic illness heightened her understanding of this relationship, making her a passionate advocate for growing your own food and supporting of local food systems. Siobhan also studied horticulture with a New Zealand certificate in Organic Primary Production, she looks forward to the future of growing food in our fruitful region.
Siobhán envisions our market continuing to be a vibrant hub, connecting the community over nourishing kai.
Board Member
Sophie Walker
Board Member
Rachel Church
TARANAKI FARMERS MARKET
Sundays' 9am - 12pm @ Huatoki Plaza
The vibrant tastes of Taranaki - your one stop shop for local food, drink, music and community.
Proud to be Organic New Zealand's 'Farmers Market of the Year' 2024!
Contact us
marketcoordinators@gmail.com
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