Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was given a tour of New Zealand's first Costco today as the members-only megastore prepares to announce an opening date. Video \/ Carson Bluck<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was given a tour of New Zealand's first Costco today as the members-only megastore prepares to announce an opening date.<\/p>\n
The world's second-largest retailer after Walmart has set up shop at the Westgate shopping centre but has been offering petrol to its members at a site next door since April.<\/p>\n
Ardern was flanked by Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs David Clark for the tour where she met with Costco vendors and employees.<\/p>\n
Exactly when the megastore will open to the public remains unknown - however Costco managing director for Australia and New Zealand Patrick Noone said an announcement of the opening date was expected in the next couple of weeks.<\/p>\n
\"We're still working through our building approvals and completion of the construction.<\/p>\n
\"We should have our approvals by the third week of September so we will see what happens after that.\"<\/p>\n
Customers must buy a $60 membership card to shop at the store.<\/p>\n
Previously, the Herald reported that the retailer was slated to open on August 27 but the labour crisis and ongoing construction delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic stymied the plan.<\/p>\n
Noone told RNZ last week Costco had faced \"numerous delays\", including due to wet weather, Covid and materials coming in late offshore.<\/p>\n
Costco's imminent opening follows a report by the Commerce Commission on supermarkets in April that concluded competition was not \"working well\" in the $22 billion sector.<\/p>\n
Clark referenced the report while speaking briefly to reporters at the entrance of Costco today.<\/p>\n
\"Here we have a company that is really interested in coming in and providing some competition in the market.\"<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Clark announced \"an unprecedented shake-up\" of the sector including requiring supermarket companies, like Foodstuffs and Woolworths, to provide wholesale goods to competitors at a fair price.<\/p>\n
The idea is to give smaller retailers and new market entrants a leg up by helping them source and sell a wider range of groceries at better prices.<\/p>\n
During the tour, Ardern was offered a spread of muffins, lolly cake and blueberries as she met with the vendors at the Kirkland Bakery within the store. Before she left, Ardern took a group photo with the store employees and wished them \"good luck\" before leaving.<\/p>\n
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Costco: Prime Minister tours West Auckland megastore, opening date to be announced in coming weeks - New Zealand Herald<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was given a tour of New Zealand's first Costco today as the members-only megastore prepares to announce an opening date. Video \/ Carson Bluck Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was given a tour of New Zealand's first Costco today as the members-only megastore prepares to announce an opening date. The world's second-largest retailer after Walmart has set up shop at the Westgate shopping centre but has been offering petrol to its members at a site next door since April Continue reading