NZ's first Ikea a step closer with Auckland Airport warehouse deal

Tuesday, 8 August 2023

Ikea’s first New Zealand store is a step closer after the Swedish furniture giant signed an agreement to lease a 20,000m² warehouse near Auckland Airport.

On Tuesday the company announced it had reached an agreement with the airport to develop and lease the “vital” warehouse at The Landing Business Park in Māngere.

The warehouse site is about 15 kilometres from Sylvia Park where Ikea’s first store is under construction and expected to open in late 2025.

Ikea market expansion manager Fabian Winterbine said the purpose-built facility would be “integral” in the day-to-day running of both the physical store and Ikea’s online shopping platform.

“Already home to some of the world’s largest logistics companies, and with the infrastructure and facilities to meet our needs, The Landing Business Park is the perfect location for our first ever IKEA warehouse in New Zealand,” he said.

Daniel Byrne, Auckland Airport head of property development, said Ikea’s market arrival was “long-awaited” and the warehouse would strengthen of Auckland Airport’s industrial and logistics portfolio.

Ikea expected the warehouse to be operational in early 2025 and would initially advertise for about 35 roles at the purpose-built facility.

Ikea operates 400 stores worldwide, including 10 in Australia, where it has been operating for almost 50 years.

The company had planned to begin work on its first New Zealand store in 2019 and initially indicated an opening date of late 2024.

However, the outbreak of Covid-19 thwarted those plans and ground was not broken at Sylvia Park until June this year.

The three-storey Auckland store is set to cover 34,000m² and will be home to at least two full-size houses, as well as a restaurant and food market.