SECTOR COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
Ruakura Superhub paves the way in Hamilton renaissance
Chris Joblin, CEO, Tainui Group Holdings
One of the most satisfying aspects of working with the commercial arm of the Waikato-Tainui iwi since 2009 has been to see and contribute to the growing economic confidence in the Waikato.
The 92 hectare stage 1 of the Ruakura Superhub showing the inland port and adjacent logistics, industrial and commercial zones.
Even better, to see awareness of our emerging economic strength dawning on our neighbours in the golden triangle – Auckland and Tauranga and now extending to the Government in Wellington. The upshot? A surge of committed major commercial, civic and infrastructure development projects that promise to rejuvenate an admittedly tired and dated CBD, connect us strongly into the Auckland Hamilton growth corridor and significantly increase our city’s role as a key node in the North Island supply chain; taking pressure off the key seaports in Tauranga and Auckland. It’s no stretch to say that strategic property development has played a key role in
28
|
The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand
this emerging confidence, sustaining the economy through COVID and helping us power out the other side. For our iwi, these developments kicked off with The Base regional shopping centre, which is New Zealand’s largest single site retail outlet. Today it comprises 85,680 square metres of large format retail, chain and boutique retail, food & beverage and entertainment - owned and operated in conjunction with Kiwi Property Group, who acquired a 50% share in 2016 for $192.5 million. Like many other developments we do, The Base is developed on whenua that was returned to the Waikato-Tainui iwi as part of the 1995 Settlement with the Crown,
