An unprecedented portfolio of five prime, high-performing retail assets has come to market across New Zealand, offering a unique opportunity to acquire significant scale and diversity in the sought-after retail market.
Boasting combined annual sales in excess of $2.37 billion, the five Westfield assets located in Auckland and Christchurch provide over 280,500sq m of gross lettable area (GLA) in some of the fastest-growing areas in New Zealand.
A 49 per cent, non-management interest in the property portfolio is being offered for sale through Lachlan MacGillivray and Richard Kirke of Colliers, jointly with Ryan Johnson, Jason Seymour, Chris Maher, and Justin Bond of Bayleys in association with Knight Frank.
“This is a truly unique opportunity to immediately dominate the New Zealand retail market,” MacGillivray says.
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“The centres form an integral component of Auckland’s and Christchurch’s retail and economic fabric.”
Maher added: “We anticipate strong interest from Australian, New Zealand, and international investors due to the appealing initial yield, scale, performance metrics, high-quality income, and key metro locations in Auckland and Christchurch.”
Features of the portfolio include approximately 60ha of prime metro land and over 44.4 million annual visitors each year, eight times the total population of New Zealand.
With considerable development potential across the whole portfolio (STCA, subject to council approvals) and an established JV structure with one of the world’s most notable managers of retail destinations, interest is expected to be very high.
Kirke says New Zealand recorded strong levels of immigration and a rebound in the tourism sector following the reopening of the border.
“Annual net migration has reached a record high in 2023, boosting consumer spending and demand for goods and services.”
Johnson says the country stands as an increasingly coveted investment destination, offering a transparent and open market environment, as well as economic stability.
“With their robust sales performance and ability to add scale through further development, these prime regional shopping centres will be an attractive opportunity for many.”
Highlighted in the portfolio is Westfield Newmarket, New Zealand’s top-performing shopping centre with a GLA of 86,899sq m.
It boasts the only David Jones department store in the country together with luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga, Moncler, and Saint Laurent.
Westfield Albany is the dominant retail offering on Auckland’s North Shore, with extensive landholdings for future development (STCA) and an existing GLA of 53,341sq m.
Demand is high from retailers entering the centre, with 55 new leases signed since July 2022. Major tenants include Kmart, New World, Farmers, and Event Cinemas.
Westfield St Lukes is situated on the fringe of the Auckland CBD and incorporates adjacent properties with significant development potential for either mixed-use or centre expansion (STCA). The current GLA is 39,777sq m and major tenants include Kmart, Farmers, Countdown, and Event Cinemas.
Westfield Manukau City is one of the main regional shopping centres in Auckland’s south, with favourable zoning strongly encouraging commercial growth and development as well as community interaction. It has a GLA of 45,280sq m and major tenants include Farmers, Countdown, and Event Cinemas.
Finally, Westfield Riccarton is the dominant shopping centre in New Zealand’s South Island, with a GLA of 55,206sq m, impressive turnover metrics, and high occupancy levels underpinned by strong demand for retail space. Major tenants are Kmart, Pak’nSave, Farmers, and Hoyts Cinemas.
Available in one line or individually, the opportunity to acquire a 49 per cent non-management interest in one of the best retail property portfolios ever offered to market is for sale via an expressions of interest campaign, closing at 4pm on Thursday 18 April.
- Supplied by Colliers
