Ikea has opened its first store in New Zealand and is also bringing its full range of products to the country online.

Completed more than two years after breaking ground on the site in Sylvia Park, Auckland, the new outlet is home to 7500 items.

The move also marks the first time the Swedish homewear giant has launched in a new country since 2021, when it opened a store in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

“We’re thrilled to bring Ikea all the way to New Zealand, the country that’s geographically the furthest from our Swedish beginnings. That distance makes this opening special,” said Tolga Öncü, Ingka retail manager (COO), Ikea. 

“Coming to New Zealand is a real leap of faith, investment and friendship, showing we’re not just exporting a store. We’re planting roots for the long term.”

Research conducted in New Zealand ahead of the opening led Ikea to visit more than 500 homes across the country to understand the new customer base, resulting in its first “Life at Home” report on the country.

For the first time, when opening a new market, Ikea has set up 29 pick-up points around the country, where customers can collect their purchases.

The retailer will also be introducing a ‘Buy Back’ service at the Auckland store from day one, even for non-Ikea products, supporting circular living and reducing waste.

In total, Ikea says it will continue to invest in worldwide expansion, with more than €5 billion ($10.1 billion) to be spent by the financial year of 2027, earmarked for opening new locations and optimising the existing ones across many markets.