Inside Auckland’s growing food-truck scene where rules and weather remain a challenge

Food trucks are gaining more prominence in the street-food scene in Auckland, with their presence attracting crowds at events in places like Takutai Square.

However, vendors say it is challenging to maintain a consistent business outside such organised food truck events due to strict regulations, unpredictable weather, and limited trade areas.

Food Trucks Collective is an organisation supportimg food truck vendors by hosting organised events to provide a space to trade.

Owner Timothy van der Werff said there had been a considerable increase in the number of food trucks in Auckland in the last 10 years.

“There are so many people opening a food truck. It's crazy. We have like 100 of the top vendors in our collective. We have a waitlist of 280 vendors who want to join.”

Vendors had limited trading spaces, he told TWN at a Takutai Square evrnt this week.

“They can't physically sell their food anywhere so this is kind of the solution to the problem.”

Auckland Council regulations require food trucks to seek permission to operate in public spaces, including permits and landowner permission to operate in particular locations.

Birria AKL operator Josh Parrish said these restrictions had a direct impact on the ability to conduct a stable business.

“Because it's not easy to get a public training licence in the council. They're very vague in terms of where you can park your food truck long term.”

He says the council should provide more flexibility and guidance.

“Because when you go to these one-off events, sometimes the rent can be quite high and makes it not profitable. And that's where some of the trucks fail.”

Event coordinator for the Food Truck Collective, Shaina Sabina, said food trucks were gaining popularity and were serving to unite communities.

“I think it's really just important to try and get out into the community.”

Organisers of food-truck events say despite these concerns, the events still contribute to the support of small businesses.

Pioneer Pies events manager Ryan Macaulay said people should support local businesses or everything would be under giant co-operations

“There will not be food trucks for much longer if people don't come out and support [them]. And I know it's hard for everyone at the moment,” he said.

Organisers and other vendors echoed similar concerns, saying that while events provide exposure, income was often inconsistent due to fluctuating crowds. Bad weather remains a major concern.

“Auckland is insanely difficult to predict. It could be raining one minute and sunshine the next. It definitely impacts sales,” van der Werff said.

Sabina said she thought people underestimated food-truck vendors.

“It may be not too difficult to get a food truck and then to get it certified. But to be able to make consistent income and actually what your takeaway income is may not be what you think,” she said.

------

AI was not used in the production of this story