New shops open at the Botany Town Centre

The Botany Town Centre opened for business and pleasure yesterday on 17.6ha of former farmland in south-east Auckland.

Blaring bands and frisky clowns greeted the first wave of shoppers to venture into the maze of courtyards and 100 stores.

Building contractors Mainzeal New Zealand handed over the keys to the developers of the $185 million project, AMP Henderson Global Investors.

Work is continuing to provide a further 40 stores by July.