Waitakere Mega Centre
Encyclopedia
Waitakere Mega Centre is an integrated bulk retail shopping centre
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...

, located in Henderson
Henderson, New Zealand
Henderson is a major suburb of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 13 kilometres to the west of Auckland city centre, and two kilometres to the west of the Whau River, a southwestern arm of the Waitemata Harbour.-Description:...

, a major suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, on Vitasovich Avenue approximately 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) west of the Auckland CBD
Auckland CBD
The Auckland CBD is the geographical and economic heart of the Auckland metropolitan area. Bounded by several major motorways and by the harbour coastline in the north, it is surrounded further out by mostly suburban areas...

 immediately adjacent to Westfield WestCity
Westfield WestCity
Westfield WestCity is a major regional shopping centre located in Henderson, a suburb of Waitakere, Auckland, New Zealand, west of the Auckland CBD...

. The centre is configured in 4 freestanding blocks and draws from substantial undercroft parking facilities.

History and Development

In 1994, Wellington-based Waltus Investments acquired the site, then known as Waitakere Plaza, which contained a Kmart
Kmart Australia
Kmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...

, Foodtown
Foodtown
| area_served =| key_people =| industry = Retail| products =| services =| market cap =| revenue =| operating_income =| net_income =| assets =| equity =| owner =...

, four specialty stores and a food court. In April 1997, Waltus committed to a NZD
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....

 $5.2 million expansion and refurbishment of the centre, with the intention of turning it into a niche bulk retailing centre. The development, funded by bank loans, was based on the needs of the two new anchor tenants, Briscoes and Rebel Sport, who had just signed nine-year leases. The work was completed in 1998.

In November 2004, Urbus Properties, an NZSX
New Zealand Exchange
NZX Limited is a stock exchange located in Wellington, New Zealand. Since July 2005 it has been located in NZX Centre, the renovated Odlins building on the Wellington waterfront...

-listed property company formed from the Waltus syndicate in May 2001, commenced a $14.5 million refurbishment, and renamed the site Waitakere Mega Centre. The impetus came from the departure of anchor tenant Foodtown, who had complained that the centre could not compete with Westfield WestCity. The redevelopment, which took place over 2005 and 2006, saw the centre modified to a U-shaped design with the shops facing onto car parking, in line with other centres at Mount Wellington and Albany. The original 6733 m² (72,473 sq ft) Kmart store was demolished and replaced with 153 car parking bays, and Kmart moved into a 4926 m² (53,023 sq ft) new-format premises. An additional 6229 m² (67,048 sq ft) of retail space was added in the expansion. On 24 June 2005, ING acquired Urbus Properties, becoming New Zealand's second-largest listed property vehicle.

As at 31 January 2007, the centre was valued at $39,991,000 NZD
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....

.

Transport

The centre is accessible via the nearby Henderson Train Station
Henderson Train Station
Henderson Train Station is a major station on the Western Line of the Auckland railway network. It is near the town centre of Henderson and the new Council offices, as well as a major shopping centre, Westfield WestCity.-Major upgrade:...

 and by bus services from Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements...

 and New Lynn Train Station
New Lynn Train Station
New Lynn Train Station is on the Western Line of the Auckland railway network, New Zealand, and is part of an integrated transport centre where transfers can be made to and from bus services. A redeveloped station in a new rail trench was opened on 25 September 2010...

.

Major Retailers

Major retailers within the centre include:
  • Kmart
    Kmart Australia
    Kmart Australia Limited is a discount department store chain owned by Wesfarmers. It operates 172 stores in Australia and 15 in New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Victoria. Wesfarmers uses the Kmart name under licence from Sears Holdings Corporation.-History:Kmart Australia...

  • Briscoes
  • Rebel Sport
  • Freeride Surf skate and snow

Reduced To Clear Clearance Grocery Store
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