Ikea store to be located in Auckland

Ikea has announced its flagship store will be in Auckland but people from across New Zealand will have access.

The announcement last year that the Swedish company would be hitting the shores of Aotearoa was welcomed by many Kiwis.

No specific details were revealed, but the classic big-box store will be coming in the "next few years" and there will be more than one store in the country to deliver the "full Ikea experience".

In the meantime, a pop-up store will be set up "to give consumers a taste of what's to come".

An online service will be initally available for the rest of the country, but Ikea will look to "swiftly" move to the South Island.

A number of Auckland locations are being explored, but it is too early for a specific area to be announced.

Several hundred jobs are believed to be created when the company hits New Zealand, and the head of Massey University's retail degree, Professor Jonathan Elms, said a store will have a significant impact on the local economy.

Friday's reveal was made by the company's global chief executive, Jesper Brodin. Sweden's ambassador to New Zealand also spoke at the announcement. 

"We’re really looking forward to bringing the full Ikea experience to New Zealand, working in partnership with the local community to make Ikea a part of Kiwis’ life at home, starting with Auckland," said Mr Brodin.

Furniture on show at Friday's announcement.
Furniture on show at Friday's announcement. Photo credit: Newshub
Furniture on show at Friday's announcement.
Furniture on show at Friday's announcement. Photo credit: Newshub

A "Bring Ikea to NZ" Facebook page received more than 19,000 likes, and has now changed its name to "Ikea is coming to NZ".

Prof Elms said he doesn't believe the hype around the store will die down when it reaches New Zealand but will change how Kiwis shop.

He said no one in the United Kingdom was interested in flat-pack furniture before Ikea arrived, but "that has become the norm and I think that will be the same for Kiwis".

There are 367 Ikea stores in 30 different countries, including Malaysia, Taiwan and Australia, and Kiwis can look forward to access to 7000 products from the brand. 

Rumours in 2011 that an Ikea store would open at Auckland's Westgate turned out to be unfounded. 

Ikea was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, when he was just a teenager. He was once estimated to have a fortune of more than €30 billion.

Newshub.