7 December 2023: The Christchurch region has today welcomed the country’s first newly built Woolworths with the opening of Woolworths Waimakariri Junction. 

The 3,600sqm supermarket was officially opened this morning by Hon Matt Doocey, MP for Waimakariri. Woolworths Waimakariri Junction has created around 84 jobs and is a $20 million investment by Woolworths New Zealand and developer Investore Property. It has been designed and built with the aim of achieving a five star Green Star accreditation for sustainability. 

Woolworths New Zealand’s Director of Property, Matt Grainger, says that Woolworths Waimakariri Junction represents the shopping experience that the supermarket wants every customer to have. 

“As we transform and become Woolworths New Zealand, we’re investing in our store network across Aotearoa to better meet the needs of our customers and team. Opening state-of-the-art stores like Woolworths Waimakariri Junction is a key example of that investment. 

“When walking through the store, we want customers to notice how the whole space has been designed to feel modern and inviting with their experience top of mind. For example, small things like having doors on fridges are not only a win for the environment but also make browsing the yoghurt section a much less chilly expedition!

“We’re proud to be a part of the rapidly growing Kaiapoi and wider Waimakariri District community, and hope that locals enjoy their fresh new grocery experience with us at Woolworths.” says Matt.

The new supermarket has a focus on customer convenience and includes a purpose-built facility with eight dedicated parks for Direct to Boot - a new grocery Pick Up service that means customers can have their groceries loaded directly into their boot rather than getting out of the car to pick up. 

Woolworths Waimakariri Junction is the first Woolworths New Zealand supermarket in Canterbury to feature solar panels, and also includes other planet-friendly fixtures such as electronic shelf labels, glass doors on fridges and freezers, and dedicated electric vehicle parks. 

The construction process was also focussed on lower environmental impacts with a clear emphasis on reducing construction waste to landfill and carefully selecting the types of materials that have been used in the store. 

Woolworths New Zealand is working to achieve a 4 Green Star design and as-built rating for all of its new property developments, and a 5 Green Star minimum standard by 2025.

Woolworths Waimakariri Junction is located on 6 Hakarau Road, Kaiapoi, 7691 and is open 7am - 9pm seven days a week.