Hon Nanaia Mahuta

Minister for Māori Development

MP for Hauraki-Waikato

16 March 2018

Māori Trust develops retail heart in Rotorua

Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta congratulates Pukeroa-Oruawhata Group in Rotorua for the opening of Kmart on their property today.

“Today marks a major milestone in the third stage of the Trade Central development in the heart of the city. Pukeroa-Oruawhata has transformed the former Post Office and Telephone Works depot in to a retail centre with Kmart as its anchor tenant.

“I’m honoured to join Ngāti Whakaue, Kmart and the Rotorua District Council in celebrating this occasion. This investment by Pukeroa-Oruawhata is a great economic and social investment in the city and its people,” says Minister Mahuta.

Pukeroa-Oruawhata Group manages properties in Rotorua on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue descendants. It has created more than 650 jobs across its developments including more than 250 jobs at the Trade Central site. Kmart alone now employs more than 100 locals including Ngāti Whakaue descendants.

Minister Mahuta says Pukeroa-Oruawhata is fulfilling its vision to be a leading New Zealand business and to use its resources to deliver social and economic returns to its shareholders.

“It has created new employment opportunities in the region, distributed benefits to its shareholders and steadily grown its asset base to $230-million. Pukeroa-Oruawhata ia a great New Zealand and Māori success story that we can all be proud of.”

As a mark of the partnership between Pukeroa-Oruawhata and Kmart, the organisations co-commissioned the carving of three Pou (posts) which are located in the front of the Rotorua store. These Pou have been carved by Ngāti Whakaue carver Paki Wilson and his team of master carvers. The new Rotorua Kmart will also feature a specially commissioned design on their windows reflecting the eight tribes of Te Arawa called Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru o Te Arawa.

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