Woolworths opens to much fanfare
Tilly Jackson, 9, is the first ever customer of the new Woolworths Taupō Central
It’s now down to the business of shopping after hundreds gathered for the opening of Taupō’s new Woolworths on Thursday last week, nearly 64 years after the original Woolworths Taupō store opened.
There were plenty of important people in attendance, including Taupō MP Louise Upston, Taupō Mayor David Trewavas, Woolworths NZ Managing Director Sally Copland and representatives of Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
But it was nine-year-old Tilly Jackson who claimed the title of first customer.
"We drive past the new store pretty much every day and I just decided that I wanted to be the first ever to buy something when it opened. I felt cool and happy and thankful to finally do it today."
It was a first for Sally Copland too – the first new store she has opened since taking on the GM role and she says it was “a real privilege”.
“To be part of this opening - my first as Managing Director of Woolworths New Zealand. Investing in New Zealand isn’t just about our products, stores, price or convenience, it’s also about the difference we can make in the communities where our millions of kiwi customers live and shop.”
The new Taupō Central store is more than 4000m2 and has received 5 Green Star design accreditation. There are 110 team members including 58 newly created jobs, 280 carparks, including 150 under cover.
A special feature of the store is the three carved pou on the store exterior.
These were featured on the original store opened in December 1961.
They were carved by master carver Hone Taiapa and have been restored by Taupō master carver Delani Brown.
They represent three atua or deities: Tūmatauenga (guardian of humanity), Rongo (god of agriculture and compassion), and Tāne Mahuta (god of the forest and all within it).
For long serving Taupō team member Lee Mohi (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) it was important for the restored pou to be on the new store.
“They were part of the original store, we walked past them every day, touched them and they really were part of our life working in Taupō Central.
“Over the years they have become part of our everyday working life here. I know I used to walk past them most days, coming and going from the store and I always felt the need to touch them and respect them, and now they’re the history of the store and they’ll be here a lot longer than all of us,” Lee says.
