Building accommodation for visitors to Whangarei

CEO Quest Serviced Apartments NZ Stephen Mansfield with Whangarei District Mayor Sheryl Mai. PHOTO/CHARLIE GREENHALGH

Opening up Whangarei as the accommodation gateway to Northland is all part of the vision of those behind the $9.5 million three-storey serviced apartment building and retail spaces on the corner of Bank and Cameron Sts in Whangarei.

Construction got the official green light on Tuesday, November 11, when the Quest site was officially opened by Whangarei District Mayor Sheryl Mai.

Stephen Mansfield, CEO Quest Serviced Apartments NZ, said the company had been considering Whangarei for some time as "the ideal accommodation gateway to Northland".

"So when we were approached we felt the timing was right," he said.

"This will be a smaller boutique-type hotel that will play a role in welcoming increasing numbers of tourists to Whangarei and its surrounding area."

The Whangarei Quest - a 3400sq m, multi-million dollar complex to be built over four floors - would be the 20th purpose-built operation in New Zealand and would contain 34 studio, one-bed and two-bed serviced apartments with five retail stores.

The en-suite apartments would be built over two floors above the retail space, with a reception area on the ground floor and 13 car parks for guests beneath. The retail space was being marketed by Auckland-based investment management firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

Whangarei firm Arco Group won the building contract in July for the project, which is being led by Auckland's Canvas Investments.

Arco has also completed other work in Whangarei, including the HUB Town Basin project, Farmlands Kamo, the Northland Orthopaedic Centre and new Mitre 10 Mega.

CEO of Canvas Investments Murray Alcock said the beginning of construction "was the realisation of a long-term vision". "This site has been destined for renewal for many years and we are delighted to be able to partner with Quest Serviced Apartments to give the city a different type of accommodation facility."