New Zealand's First $100 Million Costco Is Opening This Week — Here's What to Expect

Attention bargain shoppers and fans of bulk buying — mark Wednesday in your diary, because New Zealand's first Costco is set to open this week.

Since the news of the country's first Costco was announced, New Zealanders have been feverishly tracking its progress — there's even a Costco NZ Fans Facebook group. A series of COVID-related building delays and setbacks have done little to quash that enthusiasm and finally, those fans are set to be rewarded: Aotearoa's first $100 million iteration of the US megastore will open Wednesday, September 28.

For the uninitiated, Costco is a giant US superstore (similar to the one US sitcom Superstore is based on) that's unlike a regular supermarket in many ways. Firstly, instead of shelves, giant pallets and floor displays are packed high with bulk items — including some promised speciality high-end "wow" items during opening week.

Secondly, you won't just find food and basic household essentials here: The Westgate warehouse will include an optical centre, hearing aid centre, pharmacy and a food court slinging fresh snacks like pizza, hotdogs and soft serves. You can even buy pre-made coffins. Yes, coffins.

There will also be a fuel station and a tyre centre — and 800 carparks to park your car in while you check out the other goodies on offer.

In fact, probably the only thing you won't find within the 14,000sqm of shopping space is booze, given its West Auckland location.

To get access, you'll need an annual membership, which will set you back $60 a head (or $55 for businesses). But given the glimpse inside supplied by a series of behind-the-scenes photos supplied by the stores ahead of opening — we're going ahead and calling it worth it.

New Zealand's first Costco can be found at 2 Gunton Drive, Westgate, Auckland. It will open to the public on Wednesday, September 29 — find out more on the official Instagram page.