Waitakere Mega Centre

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = Waitakere Mega Centre


image_width =
caption =
location = Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand
coordinates = coord|-36.8831|174.6350|format=dms|display=inline,title
opening_date = 1980s
closing_date =
developer = ING Property
manager = ING Property
owner = ING Property
number_of_stores = 21
number_of_anchors = 3
floor_area = convert|16551|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on
floors = 1
parking =
website =
footnotes = Information from ING Property.cite web |url=http://www.ingproperty.co.nz/WEB/webp.nsf/content/Properties |title=Properties |accessdate=2007-08-03 |date= |publisher=ING Property |pages= ]

Waitakere Mega Centre is an integrated bulk retail shopping centre, located in Henderson, a major suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, on Vitasovich Avenue approximately convert|15.7|km|mi|1 west of the Auckland CBD immediately adjacent to Westfield WestCity. 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, Foodtown, four specialty stores and a food court. In April 1997, Waltus committed to a NZD $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. [cite news|title=Waltus spending big in Auckland|date=24 April 1997|work=The Dominion|page=18] The work was completed in 1998.cite news|title=Waitakere Plaza gets makeover|last=Taylor|first=Colin|work=New Zealand Herald|date=27 November 2004|page=E01]

In November 2004, Urbus Properties, an NZSX-listed property company formed from the Waltus syndicate in May 2001, [cite news|title=Urbus Properties turns on the charm|work=National Business Review|date=18 May 2001
* cite news|title=Urbus listing debut completes renewal|last=Gibson|first=Anne|work=New Zealand Herald|date=22 July 2003] 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 convert|6733|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on Kmart store was demolished and replaced with 153 car parking bays, and Kmart moved into a convert|4926|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on new-format premises. An additional convert|6229|m2|sqft|0|abbr=on 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. [cite news|title=Merged ING trust becomes NZ’s second largest|work=Scoop.co.nz|date=24 June 2005]

As at 31 January 2007, the centre was valued at $39,991,000 NZD.

Transport

The centre is accessible via the nearby Henderson Train Station and by bus services from Britomart Transport Centre and New Lynn Train Station.

Facilities

Major Retailers

Major retailers within the centre include:
*Kmart
*Briscoes
*Rebel Sport

References