Latest news with #Pak'nSave
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Rolleston rezone removes hurdle for Mitre 10 store
The path is clearing for Mitre 10 to set up shop next to the new Pak'nSave supermarket in Rolleston. The Selwyn District Council adopted the recommendations of an independent hearing commissioner to approve Foodstuff's request to rezone land to allow an extension of retail development next to its new supermarket on the corner of Levi and Lincoln-Rolleston roads. Councillors approved the commissioners' recommendations on Wednesday, with the decision to be notified and open to appeal. Council's development and growth executive director Robert Love said the councillors' decision on Wednesday does not grant consent for a trade retail supplier to build on the site, but 'will enable an easier pathway for future applications for consent to build'. 'Once the decision is notified, there is a 30-day appeal period. If no appeals are received, the council will notify that the change is in effect, and the plan will be changed five days after that.' In his 68-page decision report, the commissioner concluded the plan change request aligned with the purpose of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and relevant planning documents, that concerns raised in the submissions were adequately addressed, and a robust planning framework was in place to manage future effects. If there are no appeals, the further development process of the site will be free to start once the changes are official in the district plan. Foodstuffs applied to rezone the area from medium-density residential to large-format retail, with plans for a Mitre10 Mega to be built on the site, once it goes through a separate consent process. Foodstuffs South Island stated that it 'accepts and is supportive of the Commissioner's recommendations'. 'Like Pak'nSave, Mitre 10 is an iconic kiwi-owned business, and the two stores are complementary of one another. 'We're looking forward to seeing the South Island's biggest supermarket, Pak'nSaveRolleston, operating alongside Mitre10 as part of the continued growth of New Zealand's fastest growing district. 'There are further planning steps that Foodstuffs South Island needs to undertake, including a subdivision consent, so we'll have a clearer idea on timing following that.' Mitre10 spokesman Murray Smith, one of the three brothers that own the Mitre 10 branches in Christchurch, said they are excited about the prospect of developing a store in Rolleston, which he said would provide over 60 jobs. 'It is very early in the process, and many of the details are yet to be finalised, so at this stage it is not possible to commit to an opening date for the store, other than to say Mitre 10 is keen to become a valuable part of the Selwyn local community as soon as possible.' At the council meeting on Wednesday, councillor Grant Miller said his recollection in developing the district plan was the council's 'desire to see large format retail, big box retail, to be on the i-Zone (industrial area) side of the railway line'. 'Up until now, most of the players have played by those rules. 'Players that have played by the rules might be disadvantaged by this decision, on Mitre10 coat-tailing on another supermarket development.' Miller was frustrated that there's a lot of 'great work done in planning and then it seems to get smashed down'. Senior policy planner Jocelyn Lewes said any individual can apply to change the plan. She said the proposal's appropriateness was assessed by the independent commissioner, who considered the economic impacts on the nearby town centre, and the site's suitability relative to existing zoned areas. 'For whatever reason, development of a large format nature has not yet occurred in what we currently have zoned as large format retail.' Foodstuffs gained resource consent to build the new 8,108sqm store in Rolleston in 2022. Foodstuffs then lodged a private plan change request with the council in March 2024 to rezone the around 7 hectares of land from a medium density residential zone to a large format retail zone. The almost $50 million Pak'nSave supermarket is set to open ahead of schedule on October 14 and will be the largest supermarket in the South Island, spanning 8100sqm and creating around 250 local jobs. By Jonathan Leask, Local Democracy Reporter ■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Upset victory in Whāngārā derby in Gisborne Premier Grade netball
The 'B' team turned the tables on their 'A' side in a Gisborne Premier Grade Whāngārā derby in the YMCA on Saturday. Old Girls Whāngārā beat Whāngārā Old Girls 42-40 in the Pak'nSave clash for not only their first win, but also their first points of the 2025 season.
NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Letters: Why don't we have a Question Time for the public to press our politicians?
Concert radio The RNZ Concert programme is an oasis in a desert of negative news in the world dominated by bigotry and prejudice. The interviews with musical guests performing often with the NZSO and other talented musicians such as the superb recently crowned New Zealand youth choir contact are a joy to hear – the interviewees are not verbose and egocentric but are appreciative, informed music lovers like myself. Margaret Ward, New Zealand Waikato medical school The short course opening to graduates at the new Waikato medical school, concentrating on training for general practice and rural medicine, raises two questions. Will the new doctors have a different form of medical registration to those who undergo the longer training at Otago and Auckland Universities, thereby restricting their work to areas in which they are specialised? Secondly, will their qualification be recognised worldwide as a complete or limited medical training? Stewart Hawkins, St Heliers. Building costs The cost of building construction throughout New Zealand – already in crisis – is worsening as more and more building projects fold almost on a daily basis. Has anyone noticed? Gary Hollis, Mellons Bay. Property buy-outs It is understandable that the Government cannot continue to fully compensate home owners when properties are damaged and destroyed through natural events. However, when the authorities encourage and permit housing to be built on flood plains and unstable land, then they should be made responsible to fully compensate those affected by random natural events. Insurance companies will not insure property that is deemed high risk, and no doubt banks will be reluctant to lend to buyers of dodgy housing. If we want to maintain confidence in the housing industry, support should be provided when common sense is not followed. Kay Agar, Onehunga. Homelessness Homelessness is becoming a major problem worldwide and appears to be driven mainly by drug and alcohol addiction. I watched an interesting news item from America that showed the extreme lengths they are going to in order to help their homeless. They provide financial support, meals, drug rehab programmes and shelter. In exchange, they require participants to participate in drug rehab and submit to regular drug tests. Unfortunately, people would rather live on the streets and use their welfare payments on drugs and alcohol. Where do we go to from here? If they won't help themselves, what can be done? Jock MacVicar, Hauraki. Naked little man I understand there have been a number of complaints about the nude skier in Lotto's recent TV advertisement. However, the little man who advertises Pak'nSave has been cavorting naked across the screen for years without any complaint. In today's politically correct society, couldn't that be interpreted as some form of discrimination? David Trower, Auckland Central.
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Supermarket pricing errors costing millions of dollars a year
Consumer NZ wants the government to crack down on what it calls a systemic problem of misleading supermarket prices. The consumer organisation said shoppers were too often being stung at the checkout and paying more than the advertised shelf price for items. New World and Pak'n Save owner, Foodstuffs said it took pricing accuracy seriously and had invested in systems and staff training to reduce errors. RNZ has approached Woolworths for comment. Consumer NZ chief Jon Duffy said pricing errors might seem small for individuals but the practice was costing New Zealanders tens of millions of dollars a year. He said the government needed to step in and a petition had been launched calling for tougher penalties for breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Consumer also wanted to see the introduction of a mandatory pricing accuracy code to hold supermarkets to account for errors and automatic compensation for shoppers who were overcharged. Duffy said a recent Consumer survey found 62 percent of shoppers noticed pricing errors over the past year. "This isn't okay, particularly at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills," he said. "It's already illegal for businesses to mislead consumers about prices, but the current law is not forcing supermarkets to up their game." A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the company had invested heavily in better systems, daily checks, and electronic shelf labels to reduce errors. "Our policy is that if a customer is overcharged, they get a refund of that product and get to keep the product. We've also strengthened staff training and store processes to ensure pricing is clear, accurate, and fair." Duffy told RNZ the Fair Trading Act was letting consumers down, citing two cases where Pak'n Save supermarkets had pleaded guilty to breaches, with charges including inaccurate pricing and misleading specials. Duffy said the maximum penalty of $600,000 was not enough of a deterrent. He said while New Zealand didn't need to follow in the footsteps of Australia's $50 million penalty, a fine closer to $10m would be more appropriate. He told RNZ there also needed to be more specific rules in the Act around advertising specials so as not to mislead customers, such as specials on multi-buy products. "There's a double pack of biscuits ... but it's cheaper to buy each pack individually than the special that's advertised as a twin pack. "Those are really common examples that we see." He said if buyers got home and realised they were overcharged after checking their receipt, they should get both a refund and keep the product for free. "Because no doubt you've probably had to get back in the car and drive back to the supermarket to do the supermarket's job for them. You're helping them correct a process they should be getting right in the first place."
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Supermarket pricing errors costing Kiwis millions
Consumer NZ wants the government to crackdown on what it calls a systemic problem of misleading supermarket prices. The consumer organisation said shoppers were too often being stung at the checkout and paying more than the advertised shelf price for items. New World and Pak'n Save owner, Foodstuffs said it took pricing accuracy seriously and had invested in systems and staff training to reduce errors. RNZ has approached Woolworths for comment. Consumer NZ chief Jon Duffy said pricing errors might seem small for individuals but the practice was costing New Zealanders tens of millions of dollars a year. He said the government needed to step in and a petition had been launched calling for tougher penalties for breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Consumer also wanted to see the introduction of a mandatory pricing accuracy code to hold supermarkets to account for errors and automatic compensation for shoppers who were overcharged. Duffy said a recent Consumer survey found 62 percent of shoppers noticed pricing errors over the past year. "This isn't okay, particularly at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills," he said. "It's already illegal for businesses to mislead consumers about prices, but the current law is not forcing supermarkets to up their game." A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the company had invested heavily in better systems, daily checks, and electronic shelf labels to reduce errors. "Our policy is that if a customer is overcharged, they get a refund of that product and get to keep the product. We've also strengthened staff training and store processes to ensure pricing is clear, accurate, and fair." Duffy told RNZ the Fair Trading Act was letting consumers down, citing two cases where Pak'n Save supermarkets had pleaded guilty to breaches, with charges including inaccurate pricing and misleading specials. Duffy said the maximum penalty of $600,000 was not enough of a deterrent and said while New Zealand didn't need to follow in the footsteps of Australian's $50 million penalty, a fine closer to $10m would be more appropriate. He told RNZ there also needed to be more specific rules in the Act around advertising specials so as not to mislead customers, such as specials on multi-buy products. "There's a double pack of biscuits ... but it's cheaper to buy each pack individually than the special that's advertised as a twin pack. "Those are really common examples that we see." He said if buyers got home and realised they were overcharged after checking their receipt, they should get both a refund and keep the product for free. "Because no doubt you've probably had to get back in the car and drive back to the supermarket to do the supermarket's job for them. You're helping them correct a process they should be getting right in the first place."
