Excitement and long queues as Kmart Rotorua opens

Friday, 16 March 2018

Kmart opening in Rotorua

Arriving outside Rotorua's new Kmart at 1am - seven hours before it opened - Beckie Ransfield thought she'd be first in the line.

She wasn't.

Tapu Mitai and Tarron Wirihana-Baker took that spot, arriving at 8pm the night before - 12 hours ahead of the store opening.

Tapu Mitai and Tarron Wirihana-Baker began queuing at 8pm, 12 hours before Rotorua's new Kmart opened.

'Our family came down and had dinner with us last night,' said Mitai.

Wrapped up in their dressing gowns against the morning chill, the pair said they wanted to be first in line to secure one of the opening day goodie bags.

The crowds came pouring in at the 8am opening of Rotorua's Kmart.

David Cajes called in specifically to pick-up some shelves he'd seen online. He said the Kmart compared favourably to the Hamilton branch.

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The queue to be first into Rotorua’s new Kmart at 6.45am.

As for Ransfield, she was there with a purpose.

She said she wanted to get a seven-piece swing set for her mokopuna, though she sounded a little disappointed not to be first in the queue.

KMART OPENING: Victory Tamati, Lomano Niuapu and Lazarus Dixon.

'I just want to be in there. I was hoping to be the first.'

She need not have worried, because at the appointed hour - 8am - Ransfield was first customer through the doors of Rotorua's eagerly awaited Kmart.

Aroha Karaha and Whetu Taikato with a trolley full of toys, homewares and 'something from every department'.

Although the doors officially opened at 8am, the proceedings began an hour earlier, with a powhiri and local school children performing waiata.

Among the dignitaries present were Labour Minister for Local Government and Maori Affairs, Nanaia Mahuta, Rotorua MP Todd McClay, Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey and Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick.

Brian Connell was on the hunt for sports wear. The only trouble is they 'don't have enough large sizes', he said.

But most people gathered were interested in nabbing a bargain.

Aroha Karaha and Whetu Taikato left with a with a trolley full of toys, homewares and “s something from every department “, while Victory Tamati, Lomano Niuapu and Lazarus Dixon had their eyes on some giant panda, monkey and cat heads.

Karina Balkhanoua, Vibha Verma and Yesha Thakore have been buying 'anything and everything' from Rotorua's newly opened Kmart store.

Kmart head of property Ben Smith said he had attended more than 50 store openings, but none quite like the Rotorua one.

'This is one of the most moving opening ceremonies I've been to,' he said.

Beckie Ransfield arrived at 1am and was first through the door at 8am.

He said the store, the 21st in New Zealand, had been 'a long time in the making'.

'For around 10 years we've identified Rotorua as needing a store,' he said.

Kmart Rotorua store manager Forrest Worthen counts down to the 8am opening.

Chadwick said a Kmart in Rotorua was one of two things the council had repeatedly lobbied for. She said the store's arrival was a sign of confidence in the city.

Mahuta also praised Pukeroa-Oruawhata Group for the project and for the more than 100 new jobs had been created, but she had a warning for the new staff.

'The shopping experience on Boxing Day will be the real test,' she said.

She said the opening also marked the third stage of the Trade Central development in the heart of the city.

Pukeroa-Oruawhata has transformed the former Post Office and Telephone Works depot in to a retail centre with Kmart as its anchor tenant.

'This investment by Pukeroa-Oruawhata is a great economic and social investment in the city and its people,' she said.

Pukeroa-Oruawhata Group manages properties in Rotorua on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue descendants. It has created more than 650 jobs across its developments including more than 250 jobs at the Trade Central site.

The festive theme was continued by Kmart Rotorua store manager Forrest Worthen.

'It feels like Christmas morning,' he said.

He said that walking around Rotorua in the days ahead of the opening in his Kmart staff clothing.

'As soon as people see that it's 'when is it going to open?''

Excitement has been growing in the town for sometime with a Facebook event for the opening showing more than 6500 people as interested in attending.

When Kmart opened its last New Zealand store, in Petone, more than 1000 people were waiting outside at 8am.