Another supermarket in Kaitaia could increase foot traffic and support surrounding businesses. Photo / Mike Dinsdale
Kaitāia locals hoping for more choice at the checkouts are still waiting as the country’s major supermarket chains have no plans to open stores in the Far North town.
With only one supermarket serving the town, conversation around choices continues.
The issue resurfaces regularly, particularly during the busy holiday season, according to Kaitāia Business Association chairman Josh Kirby, who said the conversation around choice never really goes away.
“There is often a perception that Kaitāia’s population alone isn’t large enough to support more than one supermarket,” Kirby said.
“In practice, Kaitāia operates as the northernmost town centre, servicing a wide catchment across Te Hiku, including Doubtless Bay and surrounding rural communities. For many people, this is where they come to do their main shopping and access services, so the potential reach extends well beyond the town itself.”
Kirby said residents frequently raised concerns about limited choice and the need to travel to other centres for groceries.
“If more options were available locally, that has the potential to keep spending in Kaitāia, increase foot traffic, and support surrounding businesses, rather than drawing people away.”
He said from a town centre perspective, “that kind of activity can have wider benefits beyond just the supermarket itself”.
Kirby said he was aware that Far North Holdings and others have had conversations over time with potential operators about Kaitāia as a market.
“However, we’re not directly involved in commercial discussions and there’s nothing confirmed that we can point to at this stage.”
“Overall, the feedback we hear from the community is less about any one brand and more about choice, accessibility, and ensuring Kaitāia continues to function well as the main service centre for the Far North.”
At the moment there are no confirmed developments in sight.
Foodstuffs, with brands New World and Four Square, said they don’t currently have plans to branch out in Kaitāia.
“Kaitāia isn’t currently part of our near-term store plans, but we regularly look at communities across New Zealand as part of our broader planning,” a Foodstuffs spokesperson said.
“As with any location, decisions about new supermarkets depend on a range of factors, including population, land availability, retail dynamics and how communities evolve over time – and those factors can and do change. We’re always open to reviewing opportunities as circumstances shift.”
Woolworths New Zealand director property Matthew Grainer said they are always looking at how to best meet the needs of New Zealand communities, including those in Northland.
“However, we don’t share our new store strategy so we can’t make any comment about plans for specific locations.”
Far North Holdings, the commercial arm of the Far North District Council, which develops commercial land in the district, declined to comment on whether any supermarket proposals were under discussion.
For residents, the lack of competition has tangible impacts.
Kaitāia resident Lesley McVinnie said finding things out of stock was a common experience.
“Every time I go, something is out of stock. At the moment I have been told by customer services that someone will be in touch with me to discuss my ‘can’t get supplied with dog bones’ problem.”
She remembered discussions about a second supermarket nearly a decade ago that came close to becoming a reality.
Another resident who asked not to be named said the supermarket conversation reflects a bigger issue for the Far North.
“I do know our little community is a hidden gem usually cut off from most resources, not just food supplies but also health resources, flights - over many years we’ve lost services. We’re lucky to still have our hospital after many people from our community fought it for it. [Another] supermarket is a small stepping stone in a big field of what we need here.”
Doug Cochrane, owner of the only supermarket, Pak’nSave, said his goal was ensuring customer satisfaction.
“We’re very focused on our strong price point. That’s pretty much our focus. Our focus is about offering great prices to customers in Kaitāia.”
“We create our own pressure about offering great prices to customers in Kaitāia. That’s our main focus, that’s what we do. We actively watch prices in the market and we act accordingly. We deliver great prices. That’s the fundamental thing we do as a brand.”