Refurbished Christchurch mall to rank among big 5 in NZ

A refurbished shopping mall in eastern Christchurch is set to become one of the five biggest shopping centres in New Zealand.

Listed property investor the National Property Trust says excellent siteworks progress is being made by on the $36 million redevelopment of the Ea£ate Shopping Centre.

Trust executive chairman Paul Dallimore said it will be among the biggest malls in the country.

"Botany in Auckland is the biggest at 42,000 sq m, then St Lukes (Auckland) at 33,000 sq m and Bayfair in Mt Maunganui at 31,000 sq m.

"Ea£ate will be in the top five with a size of 30,500 sq m," he said.

The redevelopment project, which began in January, will take 16 months to complete.

The expanded shopping centre will have 65-70 speciality retail tenants, compared with 47 tenants currently.

The project includes a new Farmers, refurbishment of a Countdown supermarket, additional retail space and a new Warehouse store.

National Property Trust units closed yesterday at 93 cents.

- NZPA