Auckland’s Sylvia Park will soon be home to one of the world’s most recognisable big blue boxes, with IKEA confirming it will officially open its first New Zealand store on Thursday 4 December 2025.
The announcement was made on site with the installation of the retailer’s large yellow wordmark across the 34,000m² building, putting an end to years of speculation about when doors would finally open. The date means shoppers will be able to browse the store in time for Christmas.
The Sylvia Park store will feature 7,500 products, from fully styled rooms in its Showroom, to accessories in the Market Hall and a warehouse for flatpack furniture. Shoppers can take items home the same day, arrange delivery, or use Click & Collect services, including 24/7 lockers.
Food is also part of the experience, with a 426-seat restaurant serving Swedish favourites such as meatballs, salmon dishes and plant-based options, alongside meals exclusive to New Zealand. A bistro and Swedish food market will sell snacks including cinnamon scrolls and hotdogs.
Tolga Öncu, Ingka Retail Manager (COO) at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), said:
“The interest and anticipation for IKEA in New Zealand can be felt all the way to Sweden and we are very much humbled by it. Welcoming a new country to the IKEA family always comes with a special emotion and we cannot be more excited to meet the many Kiwis soon and bring our well-designed and affordable home furnishings close to them.”
Mirja Viinanen, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Australia and New Zealand, added:
“I’m proud we can finally deliver the good news to New Zealanders that exactly three months from today, on December 4, IKEA will open its doors, both physically and online. We appreciate the excitement shown by Kiwis and are grateful for the country’s patience as we have been busy laying the foundations of our first home in Aotearoa.”
She said the project had involved years of work and collaboration:
“From the Māori blessing as we started construction in June 2023, to ongoing collaboration with many members of the local iwi, Kiwi Property, community groups and local businesses, we’ve laid strong foundations that will support us in achieving our forever vision – to create a better everyday life for the many New Zealanders.”
The new store is expected to attract heavy foot traffic, with IKEA working alongside Auckland Transport, Kiwi Property and local authorities to prepare for congestion around Sylvia Park. A covered pedestrian bridge will link the shopping centre and IKEA, while nearby roads have been widened and new traffic lights added.
IKEA has partnered with traffic management experts to rehearse the opening day and manage peak periods. Extra signage, traffic controllers and public transport connections will be in place during the launch.
Johanna Cederlöf, IKEA New Zealand Market Manager, said the countdown was officially on:
“My team and I are eagerly counting down the days until December 4 when we will welcome our first, New Zealand customers. For many, it will be their very first experience of what it is like being in an IKEA store – surrounded by inspiring home furnishing solutions, tailored to New Zealand homes and the way we live.”
Beyond Auckland, New Zealanders will be able to shop online or by phone, with delivery available nationwide. IKEA has also partnered with Mainfreight and NZ Post to set up 29 Pick Up Points across the country.
Sweden’s Ambassador-Designate to Australia and New Zealand, Klas Molin, described the opening as “a real milestone, and a celebration of Swedish values in action… The launch not only brings those values to life in New Zealand but also contributes to strengthening the bond between our countries.”
For Sylvia Park, the store marks another major addition. Kiwi Property CEO Clive Mackenzie said:
“We are excited to welcome IKEA to the Sylvia Park precinct. We’ve been working hard on connectivity between the sites, for the convenience of our Sylvia Park customers and IKEA’s. The covered walkway between IKEA and Sylvia Park will ensure a safe, fast, and weather-protected experience for shoppers to move easily between the two destinations.”
The Sylvia Park location will offer 544 undercover car parks, bike racks, and direct links to buses and trains. IKEA is encouraging customers to use public transport, ridesharing, or off-peak shopping to ease traffic.
The store is set to become one of Auckland’s biggest new attractions for both locals and domestic visitors.
