Botany Town Centre unveils the first stage of its $78m redevelopment

Thursday, 2 May 2019

The first stage of a $78 million Auckland mall redevelopment has opened its doors, defying a sluggish retail market.

On Thursday, Botany Town Centre unveiled the first of three new developed areas that have been under construction since February last year.

Swedish fashion retailer H&M and Australian beauty chain Mecca Maxima were part of the newly revealed Fashion Pavilion that included 19 shops.

Excited customers lined up outside both stores on opening day and H&M staff danced before the ribbon was cut.

* H&M rolls out fifth NZ store in east Auckland

Botany Town Centre has completed the first stage of its $78m revamp.

* Botany Town Centre starting its $78m expansion**

H&M has already opened stores in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Tauranga since arriving in New Zealand in 2016.

Country manager Daniel Lattemann said an H&M in east Auckland had been in the works for a long time.

'We know that there has been an appetite for H&M in wider east Auckland for some time, and we saw the opportunity to build a store that meets the needs of growing families in the area,' Lattemann said.

The product range at the Botany store was more family focused than the retailer's other stores and included its largest maternity section in New Zealand and one of it's largest childrens' departments, an H&M spokeswoman said.

The chain expected to open its seventh store in Hamilton later this year.

Botany Town Centre opened in 2001 and is owned by two large Canadian investors.

The mall is managed by AMP Capital.

AMP Capital head of shopping centres Mark Kirkland said the company expected the mall to boost Auckland's economy and retail sector.

H&M opened its largest New Zealand store in Auckland's Commercial Bay in August.

'The degree of interest from popular brands here and globally, which can have their pick of tenancies, is indicative of the wide appeal of a refurbished Botany Town Centre,' Kirkland said

'The centre is developing from a strong footprint and combining what's new with the best of the established centre.'

The redevelopment will increase Botany Town Centre's floor area from 58,000 square metres to 62,700sqm when complete.

It is the second largest mall in Auckland, though will fall to third with the opening of Scentre Group's Newmarket mall.

An extension of the dining and entertainment area next to the cinema complex is due to be completed by the end of the year.

By the time the redevelopment is completed, it will include more than 200 shops.