The market
The structure marks the spot of the Trentham Village Market which opens every Saturday morning at 8 am, rain or shine. Growers sell fresh fruit and vegetables, seedlings, honey, nuts and eggs and more. It closes at midday.
The pioneering market gardening family of Trentham, the Kents, who started the communal market garden for organic and regular farmers in 2006, also devoted a section of land to their neighbours for a communal garden. The Kent family has owned parts of the block along Fergusson Drive between Ranfurly and Liverpool Streets since 1926, when Helen Kent started Kent Nurseries.
The Whare
The Polynesian-style structure reflects the Kent's heritage as they believe they are descended from Waitaha Polynesian immigrants to the South Island. Waitaha were said to have arrived prior to Moriori or Maori, and who legend says, found the land already populated when they arrived.