Kōrero: Markets

These buyers bid in the ‘Dutch auction’ system in the Auckland Fish Market in the Viaduct Basin area in 2005. The large bidding ‘clock’ displayed a description of each lot on offer. The auctioneer started the clock at about $2 above the expected price per kilo. The price dropped every 10 seconds – until a buyer entered a bid on their keypad. The buyer’s name then appeared on the clock. 40 bins of fish, more than 20 tonnes, were selling per day in 2009. Only registered buyers could bid, but the public could view the auction, and buy from seafood retailers in the fish market area.