The Glenfield shoppers were oddly attentive, but it was not the official mall opening that transfixed them.
It was a ceiling full of balloons.
More than 3000 balloons dropped over shoppers yesterday during the opening ceremony of Westfield's Glenfield Shoppingtown, the North Shore's largest mall.
The crowd pecked at the balloonslike hungry chickens, searching for vouchers provided by the mall's 113 stores.
"Someone just punched me in the neck," complained one shopper who had been caught in the balloon-popping frenzy.
Prime Minister Helen Clark officially opened the $100 million development yesterday, formerly known as Glenfield Mall.
The Westfield-owned centre covers 30,000 sq m and includes the country's largest foodcourt and 1500 carparks. More than 450 people have jobs in the mall, Westfield's seventh Auckland shopping centre.
"I think this mall is going to be extremely popular," said Helen Clark, who appreciates the convenience of shopping under one roof.
"This is a fantastic community facility," she said.
Former All Black Michael Jones unveiled a community tile wall inside the mall, featuring the handprints and footprints of 700 Glenfield children.
He also accepted a $4000 donation from Westfield towards the anti-child abuse campaign Safe and Sound.
Westfield is expected to open a shopping centre in Albany within five years.
