Auckland should be welcoming IKEA with open arms

Auckland should be welcoming IKEA with open arms

An Auckland retail advocate says Auckland should be welcoming Swedish furniture outlet store IKEA with open arms and that the latest social media campaign is potentially damaging to New Zealand's reputation.

"All this stuff about New Zealand not being big enough to cope with the resulting traffic is just rubbish. IKEA is a very popular store internationally and Auckland should show some can-do and get them here. After all they desperately want to come," says Cameron Brewer, chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association.

"There are plenty of big site vacancies around the place at the moment. We've got Lion Nathan leaving Newmarket soon, so what about that five hectare prime location?

"The new Auckland Council will hopefully help the process of attracting strong international businesses to set up shop in Auckland. At the moment too many businesses like IKEA are slipping through our fingers because it's just too hard for them.

“Auckland has become far too process-orientated. Let's focus more on outcomes and let's start showing some can-do in Auckland. Who knows, it might just make Auckland a more attractive destination for investors," says Cameron Brewer.

ENDS

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