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Roving Food Cart Trial: Expression of Interest

Do you run a food business from a bicycle or e-bike? Nelson City Council is trialling a new roving food cart licence for the 2026/27 summer season, and we're looking for one operator to take it on.

This is a chance to trade across three of Nelson's most popular parks — Tāhunanui Recreation Reserve, Rutherford Park, and Botanics Sportsfield from 1 September 2026 to 30 April 2027.

Unlike a fixed pitch, this licence lets you move freely between locations within the three parks, so you can go where the customers are.

Is this for you?

This licence is designed for sole operators using a single bicycle or power-assisted bicycle (maximum 300 watts) as their food cart. You'll need to:

  • hold a current food business registration under the Food Act 2014
  • hold public liability insurance (to a minimum of $2 million)
  • be comfortable working independently across outdoor park environments

*Application assessment criteria for short-term temporary operators still applies. Click here.

How to apply

Fill out the expression of interest form by clicking the blue button below. Refer to our fees and charges here.

Applications close on 30 June. We'll be in touch with all applicants by 31 July.

Apply here

If you also want to trade on streets or roads, you'll need a separate licence for that. Click here for more.

Where and when you can trade

You're free to move between the three parks during operating hours. To keep things fair for other vendors and park users, there are a few simple rules about where you can set up at any given time:

  • stay at least 100 metres from any other food or beverage vendor
  • stay at least 50 metres from the edge of any playground
  • don't set up on sports fields
  • don't trade during a booked event at any of the parks without first getting approval from the event organiser.

You'll also need to manage your own waste while you're out. Please don't rely on park bins for business rubbish.

Please refer to the map below showing the trading areas.

About the trial

This is a pilot programme. At the end of the season (30 April 2027), we'll review how it went and decide whether to offer the licence again in future. If it works well, this could become a regular opportunity - we want it to succeed as much as you do.

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