At 40,000sqm Kmart’s warehouse is larger than four football fields, equivalent to 100 basketball courts and holds the title of largest building in Hamilton. At peak it will operate 24/7 supplying stock to every Kmart store in the North Island.
The sheer size of the building required a unique approach to how its September 6th blessing was conducted, with six karakia groups simultaneously delivering the waerea (protective incantation) from all four corners and other locations of the centre. So great was the distance to be travelled that golf carts were available to ferry people to where they needed to be.
We acknowledge mana whenua of Ngaati Wairere, Ngaati Hauaa, Ngaati Korokii-Kahukura, Ngaati Tamainupoo and Ngaati Mahanga for their support for this kaupapa.
“Kmart’s decision to locate this massive facility here has already created millions of dollars of value for our city and region via construction, fit out, and jobs,” says Chris Joblin, Chief Executive of TGH.
“That value will continue for the lifetime of their operations, especially now that their containers have begun to roll into Ruakura Inland Port.”
The whenua that the Kmart Distribution Centre is located on and the building itself are owned by TGH and leased to Kmart.
You can view our opening event highlights video here.