Work is underway on the new 29,000m2 Mitre 10 MEGA site in the Three Parks Business Centre, with the new store set to open in spring 2020.

The new 9,000m2 store will be more than double the size of the current Mitre 10 store and will provide an expanded offering for retail and trade customers to meet growing local demand.

“It’s exciting to be getting construction underway as this has been a project five years in the making,” Mitre 10 Wanaka co-owner Martin Dippie said.

The new store will have an extensive garden centre, along with amenities such as a Columbus Café and playground. The larger footprint will also include showrooms for kitchens, storage and large appliances.

General manager Mark Watson, who has been with the company since 2000, said the increased retail space and 243 carparks means Mitre 10 will “enhance our service to the local community”.

With the continued growth of Wanaka, the new store has also been designed to cater for local tradies, with a 1,000m2 trade and timber yard. 

While the new store will be twice the size of the current Mitre 10, its footprint won’t be, as the building is designed with energy efficient features such as passive heating and solar panels.

The store’s staff will also increase, with Mark anticipating needing approximately another 20 team members in a mix of full and part time roles. “This will see our team grow to more than 120,” he said.

Co-owner Allan Dippie has said the mixed use zoning at the current Mitre 10 building and site means there are a number of possibilities for its future use, including workers’ accommodation. 

Mitre 10 is a co-operative of 83 locally owned and operated Mitre 10 and Mitre 10 MEGA stores across New Zealand. Brothers Martin and Alan Dippie also own Mitre 10 MEGA Dunedin and Mitre 10 Mosgiel and Martin is the chairman of Mitre 10 New Zealand.