Northlands Shopping Centre
A major single-level shopping centre in Papanui, Christchurch, serving shoppers across the northern suburbs and wider South Island.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Northlands Shopping Centre is a large retail and entertainment complex in Papanui, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is identified as the South Island's second-largest shopping mall and operates as a broad-based community and destination centre rather than as a single retail chain. The centre contains more than 110 tenants across fashion, department-store retail, supermarkets, general merchandise, food and beverage, services, and entertainment. Its physical format is primarily single-level and includes a multistorey car park. The centre's origins date to plans announced in July 1966. The initial development was designed around a large Hay's department store and supermarket, followed by a mall containing a variety store, another supermarket, and approximately 25 specialty shops. Construction began with the Hay's store in September 1966, while work on the main mall followed in February 1967. The Hay's store opened on 18 October 1967, and the wider centre opened approximately two weeks later, on 1 November 1967, with 22 stores. The opening generated substantial local interest: traffic queues extended along nearby roads during the first trading days and during the centre's first late-night opening. Northlands expanded materially in 1979. The extension, opened on 10 October, increased the centre to 44 stores and approximately 160,000 square feet of floor area and added a New World supermarket. Over subsequent decades, the site developed from its original department-store-and-specialty-shop format into a more diversified shopping and leisure destination. Later additions included a food court, a winter-garden-style dining conservatory, outdoor seating, and cinema facilities. The centre's tenant mix has included Farmers, The Warehouse, Hoyts cinema, Pak'nSave, Woolworths, cafés, restaurants, bars, and numerous specialty retailers. Pak'nSave was reported as an occupant until 2024; tenant arrangements can change over time, so the current mix should be checked against the operator's official directory. The centre is positioned around convenience, everyday retail, food, services, and entertainment for Christchurch residents and visitors, with its location on the northern side of the city supporting a broad catchment. Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the building underwent extensive strengthening. This work formed part of the site's longer-term adaptation as an operating retail property in a city affected by major seismic disruption. In December 2022, Kiwi Property arranged a conditional agreement to sell Northlands to MP Holdings 5 Ltd., a Queenstown-based company owned by Mackersy Property. The transaction was subject to Kiwi Property board approval. The centre is now described in reference material as being owned by Mackersy Northlands Limited Partnership and associated with Mackersy Property. Northlands remains an active shopping centre with a mix of national retailers, food and beverage businesses, services, and entertainment uses.
History
Northlands Shopping Centre was planned as a major suburban retail development for Christchurch's northern area. Plans were announced in July 1966 for a two-stage project. The first stage consisted of a 50,000-square-foot Hay's department store and supermarket. The second stage was to add a roughly 40,000-square-foot mall containing a variety store, supermarket, and about 25 specialty retailers. The overall project was expected to cost approximately £1 million and was designed with off-street parking for between 500 and 600 cars. Construction began on the Hay's store in September 1966, followed by work on the mall in February 1967. Hay's opened on 18 October 1967, while the complete shopping centre opened on 1 November with 22 stores. The opening attracted strong public interest. Traffic entering the car park backed up along Main North Road and at times affected the nearby Harewood Road roundabout. During the centre's first Friday late-night trading session, queues extended along Main North Road and Papanui Road toward Blighs Road. The centre underwent a major expansion during the late 1970s. The new section opened on 10 October 1979 and increased the complex to 44 stores and approximately 160,000 square feet. A New World supermarket was included in the expanded configuration. Over time, Northlands evolved beyond its original department-store and specialty-retail model. Its facilities came to include a food court, a winter-garden-style dining conservatory, outdoor seating, and a cinema, alongside supermarkets, general merchandise retailers, cafés, restaurants, bars, and service businesses. Northlands is located in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui and is described as the South Island's second-largest shopping mall. The centre is predominantly a single-level building supported by a multistorey car park and a tenant base of more than 110 businesses. Notable occupants identified in reference material include Farmers, The Warehouse, Hoyts cinema, Pak'nSave, and Woolworths. Pak'nSave was listed as an occupant until 2024, while the centre's current directory should be consulted for the latest tenant information. The Christchurch earthquake of 2011 led to extensive strengthening work on the Northlands building. This intervention allowed the centre to continue as a long-term retail property while addressing the structural requirements associated with the city's seismic environment. Ownership arrangements changed in the 2020s. In December 2022, Kiwi Property arranged a conditional agreement to sell the centre to MP Holdings 5 Ltd., a Queenstown-based company owned by Mackersy Property. The proposed transaction required Kiwi Property board approval. Reference material identifies the current owner as Mackersy Northlands Limited Partnership and associates the property with Mackersy Property. Northlands continues to operate as an active Christchurch shopping centre combining supermarket and department-store retail, specialty shops, food and beverage, services, and entertainment.
- 2022
Conditional ownership transition announced
[1]Kiwi Property arranged a conditional sale to MP Holdings 5 Ltd., owned by Mackersy Property, subject to board approval.
- 2011
Post-earthquake strengthening
[1]The building was extensively strengthened after the Christchurch earthquake.
- 1979
Major extension completed
[1]An extension opened on 10 October, taking the centre to 44 stores and about 160,000 square feet and adding a New World supermarket.
- 1967
Hay's department store opens
[1]The first major component opened to shoppers on 18 October 1967.
- 1967
Full shopping centre opens
[1]The complete centre opened on 1 November 1967 with 22 stores.
- 1966
Northlands development plans announced
[1]Plans were announced for a two-stage shopping centre incorporating a Hay's department store, supermarket, specialty shops, and substantial off-street parking.
Products and positioning
A large community and destination shopping centre offering everyday retail, supermarkets, specialty stores, dining, and entertainment in Christchurch's northern suburb of Papanui.
Department stores · 1967
Department-store retail
Northlands has historically anchored its offer with department-store retail, beginning with Hay's and later including Farmers. These stores provide broad merchandise coverage across apparel, household goods, beauty, and other general retail categories, complementing the centre's specialty tenants.
Supermarkets · 1967
Supermarket retail
Supermarkets have been part of Northlands since its original development concept. The centre has hosted several supermarket operators over its history, including New World, Pak'nSave, and Woolworths. Pak'nSave was identified as an occupant until 2024, while Woolworths is listed among the principal occupants in reference material.
Specialty retail · 1967
Specialty retail and services
The centre contains a large range of specialty retailers and service businesses. These complement the anchor stores with fashion, household, personal, convenience, and other everyday consumer offerings. The original 1967 plan envisaged approximately 25 specialty stores, while the modern centre is described as having more than 110 tenants overall.
Food and beverage
Dining and food court
Northlands has expanded its food-and-beverage offer through a food court, cafés, restaurants, bars, outdoor seating, and a winter-garden-style dining conservatory. These facilities support both everyday visits and longer dwell time within the centre.
Entertainment
Hoyts cinema
Hoyts cinema is identified as one of the centre's principal occupants, extending Northlands' role beyond shopping into filmed entertainment and destination leisure.
Brand decisions
2022
Conditional sale to Mackersy Property vehicleM&ABackground
Kiwi Property arranged a conditional transaction involving the sale of Northlands Shopping Centre to MP Holdings 5 Ltd., a company owned by Mackersy Property.
Action taken
The proposed buyer was to acquire the centre, subject to approval by Kiwi Property's board.
Aftermath
Reference material identifies Mackersy Northlands Limited Partnership as the owner and Mackersy Property as the associated property group.
Recent events
- 2024
Pak'nSave reported as a Northlands occupant until 2024[1]
Other
Reference material identifies Pak'nSave as an occupant until 2024, indicating a change in the centre's supermarket tenant mix after that period.
- 2022
Kiwi Property arranges conditional Northlands sale[1]
M&A
Kiwi Property arranged a conditional agreement to sell Northlands to MP Holdings 5 Ltd., a Queenstown-based company owned by Mackersy Property. The agreement was subject to approval by the Kiwi Property board.
- 2011
Northlands building strengthened after Christchurch earthquake[1]
Regulation
The shopping-centre building was extensively strengthened following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
- 1979
Major Northlands extension opens[1]
Other
An extension opened on 10 October 1979, expanding the centre to 44 stores and approximately 160,000 square feet and adding a New World supermarket.
- 1967
Northlands Shopping Centre opens its first Hay's store[1]
Other
The Hay's department store at Northlands opened to shoppers on 18 October 1967. The full shopping centre, initially comprising 22 stores, opened about two weeks later.
Sources2 sources
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