Event Details
May 31
Otane Town Hall
Just off the beaten track, nestled amongst the rolling green hills of Central Hawke's Bay, lies a little market with a big heart.
The Ōtāne Village Artisan Market is a thoughtfully curated artisan market in the rural township of Ōtāne — a village of just under a thousand people that has more to offer than meets the eye. Established in January 2025 as an Unincorporated Community Organisation, the market was created to give talented creatives a platform to showcase their unique art and craft, sell alongside others of a similarly high standard, and grow through shared learning.
Run by a dedicated volunteer admin team of four local makers and business owners who genuinely care about quality craftsmanship, the market is carefully curated to ensure variety, originality, and a memorable experience for makers and visitors alike. Every artisan and their product is hand-selected — so what you find here, you simply won't find everywhere.
And what a find it is. Among the wares on offer you'll discover unique jewellery crafted from silver, copper, pounamu, glass beads, crystals, and polymer clay; fun patchwork items made just for children alongside heirloom soft furnishings for the home; pottery rabbits, house numbers, and garden ornaments; natural aromatic skincare; toasty warm slippers; handmade bags and belts; beautifully crafted customised furniture; topiary trees; gorgeous baby snugs; lavender products; jams, chutneys, and home baking; metalsmithed jewellery; hand knitted pure wool clothing for adults and children; kiln fired pottery; carefully crafted quilts; handmade felt and fabric items; and a delicious range of honeys. For your furry children, there are properly nutritious dog bites from The Ruff Stuff and really durable dog beds from Kiwi Wool. Looking for a treat for yourself or a gift for family or friends? Look no further — you will find it here.
The market draws visitors from across Hawke's Bay, Manawatū, and beyond — and it's easy to see why. Take your time here. Wander through the beautifully arranged market spaces, chat directly with the makers, and discover something unexpected. Grab a coffee from Lula's Coffee Cart, a bite from Tuss's Tucker — Tasty Thai Fusion, or Wild Gourmet, and settle in on the village green to enjoy the sounds of Harry Twinn & Guests against the backdrop of the countryside. It's the kind of place where you bump into friends, find something you didn't know you needed, and leave feeling like the trip was absolutely worth it.
But the market is more than a great day out. At its heart is a genuine commitment to the future of handmade craft in Central Hawke's Bay. The longer-term vision includes a programme — currently in development — to disperse surplus funds as course fees or related costs to support emerging local artists, with applications opening in early 2027.
Above all, we love what happens on market day — the genuine conversations between makers and customers, groups of friends and families gathering over food, coffee, and music. We are committed to building a market that reflects the character, creativity, and care of the community behind it.
Come, join us for a chilled day out. You'll be glad you did.
