New Zealand’s first Ikea store is set to open its doors at Auckland’s Sylvia Park in time for the busy Christmas shopping season — with Kiwi Property Group working with Auckland Transport to manage the expected influx of visitors.
Speaking at the company’s annual general meeting, Kiwi Property chairperson Simon Shakesheff confirmed the Swedish retailer was targeting a Christmas launch at the Mt Wellington site, located next to Sylvia Park.
“IKEA is likely to open around the Christmas trading period at the end of this year, and we look forward to the strength of their brand acting as a magnet to the Sylvia Park precinct.”
Shakesheff said the company anticipated “great interest” in Ikea and expected it would drive retail tourism to Sylvia Park.
“We are cognisant of the impacts on traffic in the surrounding area, and Kiwi Property is working closely with Auckland Transport to develop a traffic mitigation plan.”
Public transport links would be key in mitigating congestion, with the train station, motorway and bus linkages all providing access to Sylvia Park, he said.
“We’ve made sure that accessing Sylvia Park shopping centre is as seamless as possible, with pedestrian connectivity progressing well in the form of a covered walkway between the two sites.”
IKEA had initially announced in January 2019 it would open a New Zealand store “in the next few years”, but this was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Construction on the 34,000 square-metre store began in June 2023. The store would be three floors – the bottom level a carpark followed by two levels of retail – and have a restaurant and bistro featuring its famous meatballs.
Work was also completed on an external warehouse near Auckland Airport in December last year.
IKEA had initially announced in January 2019 it would open a New Zealand store “in the next few years”, but this was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Operating in 31 markets and founded in 1943, the IKEA brand was operated by several companies with different owners.
The New Zealand operation was run by Ingka Group, which represented about 90% of IKEA stores.
Mirja Viinanen, chief executive of IKEA in Australia and NZ, said the store would be “showcasing the latest design and home furnishing solutions to help create a better life at home”.
