Major New Attraction Planned For Auck Waterfront

Major New Attraction Planned For Auckland’s Waterfront

One of New Zealand’s leading fishing companies, Sanford Limited, has unveiled plans for a major new attraction near Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour.

The Auckland Fish Market development is modelled on the very successful tourism attraction, the Sydney Fish Market, and would include a daily fish auction, seafood restaurants and retail outlets, a seafood cooking school and lecture theatre.

Sanford managing director Eric Barratt says the $12 million development would be a significant addition to the area adjacent to the America’s Cup bases.

“We want to showcase New Zealand seafood – in addition to creating a centre for our national seafood industry.”

The Auckland Fish Market would be located on Jellicoe Street on both Sanford’s site and also the Subritzky Shipping waterfront site.

A new two-storey building on the Subritzky site would have waterfront cafes as well as retail outlets, and jetties for visiting boats and water taxis.

Mr Barratt says initial designs have been drawn up and while it is still at the concept stage, they’ve already had an enthusiastic response from potential partners in the fishing industry.

“It will be established as a separate company, the Auckland Fish Company, with the shareholders each contributing a director to the board.”

He says Sanford will maintain its operations on the site, which included the head office, marketing departments and a fish processing plant. Relevant approvals permitting, Subritzky Shipping will relocate to Sanford’s Vos & Brijs shipyard site in nearby Hamer Street.

“In 1881, Albert Sanford established this firm when he started commercial fishing from his home on Rakino Island. He sold his fish on the steps on the wharves at the bottom of Queen Street – so it’s appropriate we’re going back into the business of selling fish on Auckland’s waterfront.”

Mr Barratt says the next steps include formally setting up Auckland Fish Company and finalising the design of the Fish Market. He estimates, local authority approvals permitting, it will take 18 months to finish the development, ensuring a major new waterfront attraction in time for the next America’s Cup.

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About Sanford
Founded in 1881, Sanford is committed to the sustainable utilisation of seafood resources. It employs over 1300 people in regional locations in New Zealand in wide range of fishing, processing and aquaculture operations and is New Zealand’s only public company devoted entirely to the seafood industry.

Issued on behalf of Sanford Limited by Professional Public Relations

For further information please contact:
Eric Barratt, Managing Director, or
Shane Walsh, North Island Manager
Sanford Limited.
Tel. 09 379 4720
Fax. 09 309 1190
For more information on Sanford visit www.sanford.co.nz