Nearly 64 years after the original Woolworths Taupō store opened, the new Woolworths Taupō Central store has opened on the same site.
Hon Louise Upston, MP for Taupō, and Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas joined Woolworths New Zealand Managing Director Sally Copland at the opening, along with representatives of Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Children from Te Kura O Waitahanui and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa i te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa performed at the opening.
“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,” said Sally Copland.
Representatives from Hapū O Te Hikuwai blessed the new store 
Tamariki from Te Kura O Waitahanui and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa i te Reo Ki Tuwharetoa performed at the opening 
Hon Louise Upston, Woolworths New Zealand Managing Director Sally Copland, Taupō District Mayor Dave Trewavas 
Tilly Jackson, 9, first ever customer of new Woolworths Taupō Central 
Sally Copland touches a restored pou on Woolworths Taupō Central. The pou were part of the original store opened in 1961
The new Taupō Central store is more than 4,000m2 and has received 5 Green Star design accreditation. There are 110 team members including 58 newly created jobs.
The store also features:
• Around 280 car parks, of which 150 are under cover
• 6 dedicated car parks for a new ‘Direct to Boot’ service
• 14 dedicated car parks for electric vehicle charging
• 900 additional products additional to the range in the old Woolworths Taupō
• 150 additional grocery bays and 25 additional freezer doors, allowing greater range and better availability for customers
The store’s first customer was nine-year-old Tilly Jackson.
“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!” said Tilly.
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 really 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,” she said.
“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,” said Lee Mohi.
