Coastlands Shopping Centre
A major shopping centre in Paraparaumu on New Zealand's Kāpiti Coast.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Coastlands Shopping Centre, also known as Coastlands Shoppingtown, is a shopping mall in Paraparaumu, on New Zealand's Kāpiti Coast. It developed from farmland acquired by accountant Ray Spackman in 1963 and opened on 6 November 1969 with 21 shops and approximately 6,180 square metres of retail space. The centre was among the early New Zealand shopping centres to permit Sunday trading, a feature that helped establish it as a significant regional retail destination. The property expanded through a combination of redevelopment, neighbouring land arrangements and additions to its retail and community facilities. In 1982, Coastlands reached an agreement with the Māori Ngahina Trust concerning land south of the Wharemauku Stream. The area later became known as Ngahina Arcade and developed into a separate but closely associated retail precinct containing large-format tenants including The Warehouse and PAK'nSAVE. Coastlands was subsequently acquired by another company before being repurchased in 1988 by Alpha Corporation, the company associated with the centre's original development. Alpha Corporation was still identified as the owner in reporting from 2013, although a current ownership structure is not established in the available material. A substantial modernisation programme began in 2009, adding about 200 car parks, redesigning the food court and upgrading bathroom facilities. Further work in 2011 included an expansion of the Farmers store, bathroom improvements and the opening of a cinema. The food court was expanded again from 2015, adding four shops and approximately 120 seats. In 2014, a former garden-centre building was removed to make way for Takiri House, a two-storey commercial building named after Takiri Love, whose family had held land that became part of the centre's development and who became an early shareholder after exchanging land for shares. Takiri House opened in 2017. Construction of a second, visually matching building began in 2020 after delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Coastlands has also played a visible role in local civic development. It provided sponsorship for the Coastlands Aquatic Centre, a Kāpiti Coast District Council facility whose naming rights reflect the shopping centre's donations. The aquatic centre opened in August 2013 and includes a variable-depth main pool and accessibility features. A statue of Happy Feet, the emperor penguin that reached Peka Peka Beach in 2011, was displayed at Coastlands as part of fundraising for the aquatic centre before later being moved to the facility. By 2019, the centre was reported to contain approximately 100 shops and 49,000 square metres of retail space. Its role extends beyond conventional shopping: it combines department-store, grocery, general merchandise, food-and-beverage, entertainment, service and commercial-office uses, and functions as one of the principal retail and community destinations serving the Kāpiti Coast. Available reference material does not establish a current website, current owner, listed status or present-day visitor and sales figures.
History
Coastlands Shopping Centre was created on land that had previously been used as a farm. Accountant Ray Spackman acquired the property in 1963, and the shopping centre opened on 6 November 1969 with 21 shops and about 6,180 square metres of retail space. It became an early example of New Zealand shopping-centre development and was reported, alongside a shopping centre in New Brighton, as one of the first centres in the country to allow Sunday trading. The centre's subsequent development involved both direct expansion and relationships with neighbouring landowners. In 1982, Coastlands entered an arrangement with the Māori Ngahina Trust covering land south of the Wharemauku Stream. This land later became Ngahina Arcade and accommodated major retailers including The Warehouse and PAK'nSAVE. Coastlands changed hands after its initial development but was bought back in 1988 by Alpha Corporation, the company linked to the centre's creation. Available historical reporting identified Alpha Corporation as the owner in 2013; a current ownership record is not established here. The centre underwent extensive physical improvement from 2009 onward. The first phase added roughly 200 car parks and redesigned the food court and bathrooms. In 2011, the Farmers department store was enlarged, bathroom facilities were renovated and a cinema opened. A further food-court project started in 2015, adding four retail spaces and approximately 120 seats. These projects strengthened Coastlands as a combined shopping, dining and entertainment destination rather than a collection of small retail shops. Coastlands also expanded into commercial property. A former garden-centre building was demolished in 2014 for the construction of Takiri House, a two-storey commercial building. The building was named for Takiri Love, who became one of the centre's early shareholders after her family exchanged land for shares in the development. Management linked the project to expected growth associated with the Kāpiti Expressway. Takiri House opened in 2017, while work on a second matching building began in 2020 after delays attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The centre's community role is particularly associated with the Coastlands Aquatic Centre. The Kāpiti Coast District Council developed the facility, while Coastlands provided sponsorship and donations that secured the naming rights. Council approval was granted in 2010. Construction encountered delay after Mainzeal Property and Construction entered receivership in 2011, and the projected cost increased during the project. The aquatic centre opened in August 2013 and included a main pool with an adjustable floor, allowing different depths for children and competitive swimming. An accessibility ramp was also added. In 2016, a damaged skidding wheel caused a hole in the main pool and temporarily closed it for repairs. In 2011, a statue of Happy Feet, an emperor penguin that had washed up on nearby Peka Peka Beach, was unveiled at Coastlands to support fundraising for the aquatic centre. The statue was later relocated to the aquatic facility, where Happy Feet became its mascot. By 2019, Coastlands was reported to have around 100 shops and approximately 49,000 square metres of retail area. Historical reporting also associated the centre with about five million visits in the year before 2013, approximately 1,500 jobs and an estimated turnover of NZ$275 million, although those figures are historical and are not presented as current performance data.
- 2020
Second Takiri House construction starts
[1]Construction began on a second building designed to resemble the original Takiri House after pandemic-related delays.
- 2019
Centre reaches approximately 100 shops
[1]Reference material described Coastlands as having around 100 shops and approximately 49,000 square metres of retail space.
- 2017
Takiri House opens
[1]The first Takiri House commercial building opened on the site of a former garden centre.
- 2015
Food court expansion begins
[1]Work began to add four new shops and approximately 120 additional seats to the food court.
- 2013
Coastlands Aquatic Centre opens
[1]The council-built, Coastlands-sponsored aquatic centre opened in August.
- 2011
Retail and entertainment expansion
[1]Farmers was expanded, bathrooms were renovated and a cinema opened at the centre.
- 2009
Parking and food-court redevelopment begins
[1]A redevelopment phase added approximately 200 car parks and upgraded the food court and bathroom facilities.
- 1988
Alpha Corporation repurchases the centre
[1]Alpha Corporation, associated with the original development, bought Coastlands back after a period under different ownership.
- 1982
Ngahina Trust land arrangement
[1]Coastlands reached an agreement with Ngahina Trust over land south of the Wharemauku Stream, later associated with Ngahina Arcade.
- 1969
Coastlands Shopping Centre opens
[1]The centre opened on 6 November with 21 shops and approximately 6,180 square metres of retail space.
Products and positioning
A large regional shopping and services destination for Paraparaumu and the wider Kāpiti Coast, combining mainstream retail, grocery shopping, dining, entertainment and adjacent commercial uses.
Department store
Farmers
Farmers is a major department-store component of the Coastlands retail mix. Its premises were substantially enlarged during the 2011 redevelopment programme, reinforcing the centre's role as a destination for apparel, household goods, beauty products and general department-store merchandise.
Retail precinct · 1982
Ngahina Arcade
Ngahina Arcade is the retail area developed on land south of the Wharemauku Stream under the 1982 arrangement with Ngahina Trust. The precinct is associated with large-format retail tenants including The Warehouse and PAK'nSAVE, extending Coastlands' catchment and shopping offer.
Food and beverage
Coastlands Food Court
The food court is a central dining component of the shopping centre. It was redesigned during the redevelopment that began in 2009 and expanded from 2015 with four additional shops and approximately 120 more seats.
Entertainment · 2011
Coastlands Cinema
A cinema opened at Coastlands in 2011 as part of a broader programme that also expanded Farmers and upgraded customer facilities. It added an entertainment use to the centre's retail and dining offer.
Commercial property · 2017
Takiri House
Takiri House is a two-storey commercial development created on the site of a former garden centre. The first building opened in 2017, and a second visually matching building began construction in 2020. The project was named for Takiri Love, an early Coastlands shareholder.
Community partnership · 2013
Coastlands Aquatic Centre naming-rights partnership
The Coastlands Aquatic Centre is a Kāpiti Coast District Council facility supported by Coastlands sponsorship and donations. Its main pool has an adjustable floor, allowing different depths for children and competitive swimming, and the facility includes accessibility improvements.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Happy Feet statue fundraising
Kāpiti Coast, New Zealand
Coastlands hosted the unveiling of a statue of Happy Feet, an emperor penguin that had washed up on Peka Peka Beach, as part of fundraising for the Coastlands Aquatic Centre.
Outcome. The statue was later moved to the aquatic centre, where Happy Feet became its mascot.
Brand decisions
2015
Expand the food courtStrategyBackground
The centre continued adapting its dining offer as part of its wider redevelopment.
Action taken
Work began to add four new food-court shops and approximately 120 seats.
Aftermath
The expansion increased dining capacity and strengthened the centre's role as a mixed retail and leisure destination.
2014
Develop Takiri HouseStrategyBackground
Management anticipated growth associated with the Kāpiti Expressway and identified an opportunity to replace a former garden-centre building.
Action taken
The garden-centre building was demolished and replaced with a two-storey commercial building named Takiri House.
Aftermath
The first Takiri House opened in 2017, followed by construction of a second matching building in 2020.
2013
Support the Coastlands Aquatic CentreStrategyBackground
The Kāpiti Coast District Council was developing a new aquatic facility and Coastlands sought to support a prominent community amenity.
Action taken
Coastlands provided donations and sponsorship that contributed to the facility receiving the Coastlands Aquatic Centre name.
Aftermath
The council facility opened in August 2013 and became a visible community association for the shopping centre.
2011
Add cinema and expand FarmersProduct launchBackground
Coastlands continued its programme of physical expansion and sought to broaden the centre beyond basic shopping.
Action taken
The Farmers store was doubled in size, bathrooms were renovated and a cinema opened.
Aftermath
The centre added a major entertainment use and increased its department-store capacity.
2009
Modernise customer facilitiesStrategyBackground
The centre sought to increase capacity and improve the customer experience as its regional role grew.
Action taken
Coastlands began work on approximately 200 additional car parks, a redesigned food court and upgraded bathrooms.
Aftermath
The project formed the first phase of a longer redevelopment programme that later included retail, food and entertainment additions.
1982
Create the Ngahina Arcade retail precinctStrategyBackground
Coastlands needed to develop land south of the Wharemauku Stream while addressing the interests of Ngahina Trust.
Action taken
The centre entered a land arrangement under which the relevant property was to be jointly owned by Ngahina Trust and the shopping centre, later becoming the Ngahina Arcade area.
Aftermath
The area developed into a major associated retail precinct with large-format tenants including The Warehouse and PAK'nSAVE.
Sources1 sources
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