‘Noticeable uptick' as mall attracts new brands
Dunedin's Meridian Mall has seen a "noticeable uptick" in retail inquiries over the past year.
Two new tenants have already been added to its lineup over the past month, while an established tenant has upgraded to a larger shopfront.
The mall has also teased the debut of three new brands to the city in coming months.
The Icon Group managing director Robert Platt said the mall had experienced good inquiry from retailers looking to expand into Dunedin over the past six months — a "noticeable uptick" on the previous 12 months.
"And the recent leases shows this demand."
Collectables and blind box retailer Pop Stop had leased on the lower ground level next to the food court, while spray tanning salon Tan in The City was also open and trading, on the top floor.
Existing tenant Pandora has more than doubled its footprint at its new corner site opposite Michael Hill Jeweller.
Existing tenant Pandora had more than doubled its footprint at its new corner site opposite Michael Hill jeweller.
Other leases including a new food court operator had also been signed over the past couple of months, bringing Meridian Mall close to 100% occupancy.
Most new tenants would begin trading before Christmas this year, Mr Platt said.
There have been several high-profile retail exits from Meridian Mall in recent years.
In 2020, it lost Australian-owned retail giant Kmart, which cited concerns about required seismic strengthening work within the premises and chose to vacate the building.
The H&J Smith Dunedin department store, formerly Arthur Barnett, closed its doors in 2021 after 118 years in business.
The mall then lost Smiths City — which replaced Kmart's tenancy — which late last year confirmed it was relocating to the former Animal Attraction premises between Crawford and Vogel Sts.
Spray tanning salon Tan in The City is open and trading on the top floor of the Meridian Mall. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH
Mr Platt confirmed the former Smiths City tenancy on the top floor had now been leased to three separate "mini major tenants".
Filling this lease had been a major project for the mall this year, he said.
"I am not able to announce names yet, however building consent is lodged and we should be building the tenancy walls starting in August, target opening in November.
"These are new brands to Dunedin and we are really excited to welcome them to Meridian Mall."
tim.scott@odt.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Techday NZ
14 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Rippling's rapid growth driven by tailored HR tech for Australia
Australian companies expanding globally are driving growth in the HR technology sector, with workforce management platform Rippling reporting rapid momentum since its market entry in 2024. Rippling's investment in Australia has included growing its local team to over 80 employees, opening new offices in Sydney, and launching a suite of products tailored to meet the nation's distinct regulatory and operational needs. Team expansion The company's Australian operations have seen its headcount increase more than threefold in the past year, supported by active hiring across departments such as Marketing, Product Management, Compliance, Sales, Account Management, Solutions Consulting, Implementation, HR Advisory, and Payroll Operations. To house its expanding team, Rippling moved into a new Sydney office, designed for up to 100 staff and equipped with modern meeting and collaboration spaces. Key appointments in the region include Kellie Clenton as Product Lead for ANZ, Dan Shaw as Sales Director for Global Solutions APAC, and Andrew Rae as Head of SMB Sales. Customer growth and partnerships Rippling's Australia-based client list now features Sitemate, Omniscient Neurotechnology (O8t), AssuranceLab, Mentorloop, Cortical Labs and Liven. The company has also entered partnerships with local and regional players, including technology businesses such as Nium and Carta, HR consultancies and financial services firms including Loop Business Consulting and Zest, venture capital firms such as Square Peg, Blackbird and Investible, and organisations like Innovation Bay, the Australian Payroll Association, the Australian HR Institute, and Fintech Australia. Product localisation and launches To address Australian regulatory and business needs, Rippling has introduced a suite of new tools. These include a Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) pre-built report template to support compliance, a warehouse and inventory management solution aimed at improving employee onboarding and offboarding processes, and a custom training course builder for employee learning and development. In addition, the company launched App Studio, a no-code platform allowing businesses to create internal applications rapidly - which local company Liven cited as saving them more than 20 hours a week. Refining for local compliance "We're excited by how quickly Rippling's approach to workforce management has resonated with Australian businesses over the past year. From day one, we committed to localising our platform to meet Australia's unique requirements, and that investment is paying off, both for our clients and for the wider business. As we continue refining our product for this market and continue to expand our offering across APAC, we're confident that our emphasis on regional alignment, regulatory compliance, and on-the-ground expertise will keep driving success for our customers and partners alike." said Matt Loop, Vice President and Head of Asia at Rippling. User feedback Bradley Steinbach, People and Culture Manager at AssuranceLab, described the effect of Rippling on their operations: "Having all our information in one place has simplified compliance and enabled better decision-making. The consolidation into Rippling's system has been a huge timesaver, streamlining onboarding and payroll processes significantly. There's absolutely no way I would have been able to handle onboarding 18 people over two months without Rippling." Aaron Rau, Head of People and Culture at Liven, commented: "Rippling has been transformative for us. It's intuitive, efficient, and scalable. The platform's flexibility gives us confidence to expand and adapt as we grow, and it helps ensure we're compliant and operating efficiently. I couldn't see my team being as effective as they are without Rippling - it's a one-stop shop that just works." Future plans Rippling has indicated plans to further develop its rostering and payroll tools, as well as to introduce services tailored for new APAC markets as part of its regional expansion strategy. The company disclosed a capital raise of USD $450 million, resulting in a valuation of USD $16.8 billion, with reported annual revenue growth of over 30%. This expansion aligns with a broader trend where Australian enterprises seek external markets while facing local regulatory complexities, placing continued demand on HR technology solutions designed to streamline and centralise workforce management and compliance.
Otago Daily Times
20 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Desperate Aussie companies trying to lure Kiwi workers
By Bella Craig of RNZ Australian companies say they are not trying to poach NZ's workforce, but anybody who does fancy upping sticks for 'Straya's Northern Territory is being fair dinkum promised a chunk a' change that would make your Kiwi colleagues mad as a cut snake. Northern Territory industry leaders were at an Auckland job expo over the weekend to extol the virtues of the vast region of Australia. There were stalls looking to recruit police and corrections officers, hospitality workers, health professionals, tourism operators and construction and infrastructure workers. A number of Kiwis visiting the expo told Checkpoint the better pay and better work opportunities were tempting. But what will it mean for New Zealand's already declining workforce if they take up the offer? For Kiwis across the motu, it can be a dispiriting daily grind: apply for jobs, often receive no reply and when they do land an interview, queues of people are lining up for the same job. It can take hundreds of applications, and often many months, before something finally comes through. The unemployment rate in New Zealand is at a four-year high at 5.1 percent, so it is very competitive out there. But in Australia's Northern Territory, they are desperate for people to join their workforce and they have got Kiwis in their sights. On Saturday morning at Auckland's Manukau Due Drop events centre, the expo was bustling with hundreds of students, job hunters and people just looking for a change. They told Checkpoint finding a job in Aotearoa has become increasingly difficult. "I'm looking for other work at the moment and there's literally nothing out there, thousands of people applying for jobs that I wouldn't usually apply for. "A lot of people have applied for jobs - you see 150 people have applied, 200 people and you'll still be waiting for an answer." The Northern Territory's allure lies in its higher salaries, more job opportunities and the possibility of buying a home there. "I'm renting a two-bedroom house here for $550. At the same time when I see my sister she's in Alice Springs, she's renting a two-bedroom house for $350. "I feel really bad going into a job that pays so little, and I've studied so hard, where there's like a $20,000 difference if I start here or if I start there." Damien Charles from the Northern Territory Information and Communication Technology and Digital Services industry said there was a wider range of opportunities in the sector. A $30-40,000 pay bump also did not hurt. "Having listened to a number of people come through they're quite downcast about ICT and digital sector here in New Zealand, it's quite hard to get into the market even for people with existing skills and experience." Andrew Craven from the Northern Territory Police said they were looking for new recruits to join the police and experienced police who might want a change in scenery. First-year constables earn a salary of $111,000 compared to $83,000 here. After five years in the force that increases to $121,000 in Northern Territory, compared with $91,000 here. There is also a housing allowance of up to $34,000 for officers jumping the ditch. Craven said there were many similarities between the Northern Territory and New Zealand police forces. "We speak to the New Zealand Police a lot because we interview experienced police, particularly in the Northern Island, I think they have very similar problems." Dr Tanzil Rahman - Member of the Parliament of the Northern Territory for Fong Lim in Darwin's east - made the trip to New Zealand to help snag some Kiwi workers. He said the Northen Territory offered a different lifestyle, better pay, a higher-quality housing market and a warmer climate. "We know that New Zealanders are keen on Australia and do move to Australia and if you're looking for meaningful work opportunities that are well remunerated than again the north of Australia is a really good option." But for some Kiwis, the grass was not greener. "Australia's way too hot and there's too much drama there," said one. "People don't realise that in New Zealand we look after our retirees a lot better than they do in Australia." "I was offered about 1.7 times about what I would earn here in New Zealand. But what I love here about people in New Zealand is the people and the culture. We moved here when I was young from South Africa, so I call New Zealand my home and I'll stay," said another "We've got the most beautiful scenery in the world, great people and a wonderful future. I'd stay here," said a third. The Northern Territory job expos were held in Christchurch and Auckland over the past two weekends hosting jobs and information sessions for Kiwis keen to get a glimpse on life and work.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
ANZ Premiership final: Live updates as the Northern Mystics host the Mainland Tactix at Trusts Arena
The Northern Mystics and Mainland Tactix will meet for a third time this season in front of a sold-out Trusts Arena crowd to determine the 2025 ANZ Premiership title. Netball NZ update eligibility laws, opens door for overseas-based Silver Ferns The Netball New Zealand (NNZ) board has voted to update the eligibility criteria for national selection, allowing players based overseas to be available for the Silver Ferns. After reviewing the criteria, NNZ has introduced a formal exemption process to adapt to the changing face of the sport. Players presently choose between higher-paying opportunities overseas, or remaining in Aotearoa – where they can be eligible for the Silver Ferns. The new criteria will come into effect before this year's international netball season, with what the national organisation has described as 'clear guidelines and assessment measures for any exemption applications'. 'We've listened to the game and believe this is a positive step forward,' said NNZ board chair Matt Whineray. 'This update strikes a balance between flexibility and fairness, acknowledging the increasingly global nature of netball while continuing to protect the integrity of our domestic competitions and the mana of the Silver Ferns.' Players wanting to remain eligible for national selection while based overseas will need to go through a formal process, although the updated criteria has not been made available. 'Ultimately, the purpose of this proposed process is to ensure that all exemption requests are evaluated fairly, consistently, and transparently,' said NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie. 'It safeguards the athlete through a structured and transparent approach, while upholding the broader interests of Netball New Zealand, the Silver Ferns, and the ANZ Premiership competition.' NNZ has said the updated criteria will not be made public, adding to what has been a murky saga regarding overseas players' availability. Earlier this year, Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio told Newstalk ZB that players must have 100 test caps to be eligible for an exemption to play offshore and still play in international fixtures. Australian-based Grace Nweke confirmed the same to Fox Sports - saying it was Netball NZ's 'black and white' rule. However, a spokesperson for the national body has clarified no such 100-test rule exists, and each case was at the board's discretion. In the time since, multiple players have expressed to Newstalk ZB that they have been forced to choose between overseas offers – largely out of Australia – and remaining in NZ and the ANZ Premiership.
