Fire crews respond to alarm at Ikea days before first NZ store due to open

Three fire crews were called to Ikea’s first New Zealand store after a sprinkler was activated, days before it is set to open to the public.

A member of the Ikea NZ Fans Facebook group spotted three fire engines outside the Sylvia Park store on Thursday evening at about 5.45pm and posted “all arrived lights and sirens. I was worried”.

Fire and Emergency confirmed they attended the yet-to-be opened Sylvia Park store, after a fire alarm was activated.

A Fire and Emergency shift manager said two units attended initially, arriving at 5.33pm and a third command unit joined, for radio support.

The incident was classified as a false alarm, and the units left the scene by 6.47pm.

In a statement, an Ikea spokesperson told the Herald the call out yesterday afternoon was due to a sprinkler in the store being activated.

“The fire brigade attended as part of standard procedure, and the situation was promptly resolved. There was no fire, and this has had no impact on our opening plans,

“We look forward to welcoming customers to our store on December 4.”

Ikea announced plans to open its first Aotearoa store in 2018. Doors of the 34,000sq m retail hub, which will be the Scandinavian company’s furthest outpost from their Swedish base, are set to open on December 4.

The shop will have living room, kitchen and bedroom installations and a children’s play area. It will also have click-and-collect facilities and about 7500 products available for purchase.

A 426 seat food court will offer globally loved dishes alongside a selection of New Zealand‑only menu items.

Construction of the store began in June 2023. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon previously told the Herald Ikea’s arrival was exciting for New Zealand and a positive sign for foreign investment.

“It means more jobs.”

The Swedish retailer originally planned to hire 400 workers, but later increased that to figure, saying team members would number 500 by the time it opens the Sylvia Park store opens. In September, Ikea said it had received 25,000 applications for those positions.

In October Ikea’s parent company, Ingka Investments, bought 10,000ha of production forestry in Northland.

Ikea currently operates in 31 other countries.