Foodstuffs battles to open Pak 'n' Save in Wairoa District (NZ)

Foodstuffs's bid to open a Pak 'n' Save store in Glenfield is finally coming to a head. The company has been trying to open it’s a store on the North Shore for 20 years. Although the building was finished in 2005, the store was ruled illegal and has had to stay shut ever since.

Foodstuffs competitor, the Australian-owned Progressive Enterprises, along with the Northcote Mainstreet Business Association, opposed the city council's granting Foodstuff permission to build the Pak ‘N Save store. Their argument was that the supermarket is "contrary to the council's centre-based district plan policy" and that the store would cause traffic congestion and air pollution. Their argument was string enough to have the permissions overturned by the High Court in June 2005, forcing work on the supermarket to stop.

Foodstuffs filed against the court's decision, with over 1000 supporters having signed a petition to support the Pak 'n' Save opening. Murray Jordan, Foodstuffs' general manager of property development, said he was heartened by people who had backed the store. "The support from people on the North Shore has been outstanding. You've just got to look at the numbers. Applying for a fully notified consent gives people a chance to be heard," he added.

A hearing will take place this month to take a new look at the case. The North Shore City Council and Auckland Regional Council will hear the notified resource consent application for the business over five days, as well as visiting the site. A decision from the panel is expected within three to four weeks after the hearing. However, some suspect that even if a decision is made by the panel allowing the store to open, it would immediately be appealed to the Environment Court.