Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Christchurch could soon become home to New Zealand’s second Costco warehouse, with a major retail and fuel station development accepted into the Government’s fast-track approvals process.
Plans for Christchurch’s first Costco store have moved a step closer to reality after the Government accepted the proposed development into its fast-track approvals process.
The project would see the international wholesale retailer establish a major new site on 17.68 hectares of vacant land near Christchurch Airport, bounded by Memorial Avenue, Avonhead Road and Russley Road (State Highway 1).
Current plans include a 16,090sqm Costco warehouse featuring a retail area, food court and tyre centre. The development would also include a members-only fuel station for cars and trucks, along with approximately 7,900sqm of additional large-format retail space.
Acceptance into the fast-track process does not guarantee final approval, but it allows the proposal to move through an accelerated consenting pathway.
Government assessments estimate the development could generate around $57 million in annual GDP once operational and support the equivalent of 486 full-time jobs. Construction activity is expected to contribute a further $63 million to the economy and create the equivalent of 350 full-time years of employment.
The Government said the project was considered to offer significant regional and national benefits, including increased competition in New Zealand’s grocery sector.
Christchurch City Councillor Sam MacDonald welcomed the proposal, saying greater competition could provide much-needed cost-of-living relief for households. However, he noted the impact of additional traffic on nearby residents would need careful management.
“We just have to manage the impacts locally,” MacDonald said.
Christchurch City Council has already provided feedback to the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport as part of the referral process.
Costco opened its first New Zealand warehouse in Auckland in 2022, drawing large crowds when it launched. A second Auckland store is also planned for South Auckland.
While social media speculation has suggested Costco may also be considering a Wellington location, including Johnsonville, no official announcement has been made. The fast-track application relates only to the Christchurch development, and Costco has not publicly commented on any Johnsonville proposal.
The applicants have until October 2028 to lodge their substantive fast-track application.
