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Flaxmere Supermarket to Close in July After Exhausting All Options

by Chief Editor
written by Chief Editor

Flaxmere Supermarket is closing its doors as TW Property prepares for a major redevelopment of the Flaxmere Village Shopping Centre. According to TW Property chief executive Terry May, the supermarket’s lease was terminated through a negotiated agreement, clearing the way for a new road and infrastructure project that will replace existing tenancies.

Why is the Flaxmere Village Shopping Centre being redeveloped?

The redevelopment, championed by the Hastings District Council, aims to modernize the suburb’s retail infrastructure by introducing larger, corporate-backed anchors like Woolworths. According to TW Property, a new road will be constructed directly through the site currently occupied by the supermarket and other local businesses. Mayor Wendy Schollum stated that while the closure of the local supermarket is a loss, the arrival of Woolworths provides “long-term certainty of local supermarket access” and new employment opportunities for the region.

Why is the Flaxmere Village Shopping Centre being redeveloped?
Did you know?

Flaxmere Pharmacy, a fixture in the community for over 30 years, is shifting its business model by relocating into the new Woolworths development. The new facility will offer expanded healthcare services, including three consulting rooms, alongside NZ Post and Kiwibank services.

How do local service transitions impact community stability?

The transition from independent or smaller-scale grocery operators to large-format retailers often triggers concerns regarding accessibility for vulnerable populations. Mayor Schollum noted that when the previous New World supermarket closed, residents, particularly the elderly and those without private transport, faced significant hardships. The outgoing Flaxmere Supermarket owners were credited by the Mayor for stepping in during that period to maintain essential local supply lines. This cycle of store closures and openings highlights the reliance of suburban hubs on consistent, anchor-tenant presence to sustain secondary services like pharmacies and banking.

What are the future trends for suburban retail hubs?

Modern suburban development is increasingly prioritizing integrated, multi-use retail spaces over fragmented, standalone shops. The Flaxmere model suggests a trend toward consolidating essential services—such as health, postal, and banking—within the footprint of major supermarket developments. By embedding services like the Flaxmere Pharmacy into the new Woolworths site, developers aim to create “one-stop-shop” environments that reduce the need for residents to travel outside their immediate suburb for daily necessities.

FAVERGRAY | OCEAN VILLAGE UPDATE | MAY 2026

Pro Tips for Community Retail Shifts

  • Monitor Lease Cycles: Property owners often align lease terminations with major infrastructure upgrades, as seen with the TW Property redevelopment.
  • Integrated Services: Small businesses, such as pharmacies, can often secure stability by partnering with anchor tenants during new construction phases.
  • Advocacy Matters: Local councils often play a decisive role in facilitating these transitions; engaging with local representatives can help voice community needs during the planning stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the existing Flaxmere Village buildings remain?
No, according to TW Property, the majority of the current buildings in the shopping centre are slated for demolition to accommodate the new road and redevelopment.
What happens to the services currently at the supermarket site?
While the supermarket is closing, other businesses like the pharmacy are relocating into the new Woolworths-anchored development, which will include consulting rooms and banking services.
Why is the council supporting this change?
Mayor Schollum indicated the project brings investment, new jobs, and the promise of long-term supermarket access to the suburb.

Have you noticed changes in your local shopping centre? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on local development projects in your area.

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News

Rotorua Specialist School Unveils New Inclusive Playground

by Rachel Morgan News Editor
written by Rachel Morgan News Editor

Rotorua Specialist School – Te Kura Pūkenga o Rotorua has officially opened a new inclusive playground designed to support the physical and social development of its 112 students. The project, which features specialized equipment such as a wheelchair carousel and sensory-integrated climbing structures, was fully funded by the school board through 16 years of community fundraising and long-term investments. The facility, which opened in April, is restricted to students to maintain safety standards.

Designing for Diverse Needs

The playground equipment was selected by students, staff, and therapists to address specific learner requirements, including sensory engagement, movement, and regulation. According to school leadership, the site includes a flying fox, a large slide, and a climbing hut. To assist visually impaired students, designers installed a bright orange safety strip around the perimeter of the play area.

Designing for Diverse Needs
Did You Know?
The funding for this playground represents a 16-year effort by the kura community. Resources were accumulated through a combination of whānau contributions, koha, fundraising initiatives, and managed long-term savings.

Operational Impact and Community Support

Since the project’s completion, the school has implemented staggered playtimes to ensure every student can access the equipment in a manner that suits their individual needs. The opening ceremony, blessed by Kaumatua Richard Wharerahi and officiated by Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell, was described by the school as a “magical” event. The celebration included a communal hakāri and the sharing of themed cupcakes among students and staff.

Sunset Primary School Playground, Rotorua
Expert Insight:
The school’s decision to integrate therapist-led design into the playground layout suggests a shift toward viewing play environments as extensions of the classroom. By prioritizing physical regulation and social interaction, the school is likely attempting to mitigate common barriers to participation for students with diverse needs, potentially setting a local benchmark for inclusive facility design.

What Happens Next

As the playground becomes a regular feature of the school day, the administration expects to see ongoing benefits to student wellbeing and engagement levels. The school board may continue to monitor the impact of the staggered play schedule to determine if further adjustments are necessary to optimize student use. Given that the school is fully gated, the playground will remain a private space reserved exclusively for the school community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the new playground open to the public?
No. The school is fully fenced and gated to ensure student safety, and the facility is not accessible to the general public.

Who helped design the playground?
The design process involved a collaborative effort between the school’s students, staff, and therapists.

How long did it take to fund the project?
The funds were built up over a period of more than 16 years through community contributions and school-led financial management.

How might the integration of specialized play equipment influence the daily learning experiences of students in your local community?

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Business

RockRidge Trail: New Luxury Canterbury High Country Hike Opens

by Chief Editor
written by Chief Editor

The Rise of “Luxury Tramping”: Why High-End Hiking is the Future of Travel

For decades, the classic hiking experience was defined by heavy packs, dehydrated meals, and sleeping on thin foam pads. But a new trend is shifting the paradigm: the rise of “luxury tramping.” As travelers increasingly seek meaningful connections with nature without sacrificing creature comforts, the industry is pivoting toward curated, high-end wilderness adventures.

The success of private, multi-day trails—like the newly opened 31km RockRidge Trail in New Zealand’s Canterbury high country—proves that modern hikers are willing to pay for a “soft landing.” This model combines the physical challenge of the trail with farm-to-table dining, plush homestead accommodation, and the luxury of luggage transfers.

The Shift Toward “Comfort-First” Wilderness

The modern luxury hiker isn’t looking to “survive” the elements; they are looking to experience them through a lens of refinement. This evolution in travel is driven by a desire for leisurely tourism. Rather than rushing through a landscape, travelers are spending two or more days traversing private stations, swapping the tent for a bed in a historic homestead and the trail mix for 55-day aged fillet steak.

Pro Tip: When booking a luxury hiking experience, check if the operator offers “luggage logistics.” Having your gear transported between stations allows you to focus on the trail rather than the weight on your back, significantly increasing the enjoyment of steep ascents.

Why High-Country Tourism is Booming

The appeal lies in the contrast. There is a primal satisfaction in navigating volcanic rock gorges or alpine ridges, followed immediately by the indulgence of a sauna or an outdoor hot tub at the end of the day. This duality creates a “reward-based” travel cycle that is highly addictive for urban professionals.

these trails often utilize working farms, providing an authentic look at rural life. Hearing the hum of shearing sheds while soaking in a hot tub offers a sensory experience that standard hotel stays simply cannot replicate.

The Hidden Trap: The “Gourmet Paradox”

While the physical exertion of a 31km trek is undeniably good for the soul, it presents a humorous challenge for the waistline. The “Gourmet Paradox” occurs when the quality of the food at high-end lodges—think duck-fat roast potatoes, chocolate tortes, and farm-fresh lamb—far outweighs the calories burned on the trail. It’s a reminder that while these trips are active, they are ultimately celebrations of regional cuisine.

From Instagram — related to Gourmet Paradox

Did you know? Many luxury hiking trails are located on private, multi-generational farms. This allows for exclusive access to landscapes that were previously inaccessible to the public, ensuring a crowd-free experience even during peak seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is luxury tramping? It is a style of hiking that provides guided or well-marked trails with high-end accommodation, gourmet meals, and amenities like hot tubs and saunas.
  • Is prior hiking experience necessary? Most luxury trails are designed to be moderately challenging but accessible. However, always check the elevation gain and terrain type before booking.
  • What should I pack for a luxury hike? Even with luggage transfers, bring sturdy, broken-in hiking boots, moisture-wicking layers, and a high-quality camera to capture the panoramic views.

The Future of Sustainable Adventure

Looking ahead, we expect to see more private landowners converting underutilized grazing land into boutique hiking trails. This model supports rural economies and encourages conservation. By turning the landscape into a destination rather than just a commodity, these trails provide a sustainable path forward for regional tourism.

Great Parks Master Hiker Quest 27 of 34: Francis Recreacres- Multi-Use Trail

Are you ready to trade your tent for a homestead? Whether you’re a seasoned trekker or a weekend warrior, the luxury trail movement has something for everyone. Have you ever combined a rugged hike with a gourmet getaway? Share your favorite trail experiences in the comments below!

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Business

Contact Energy opens $151m Glenbrook grid battery to boost winter energy security

by Chief Editor
written by Chief Editor

The Flexibility Revolution: Why Mega-Batteries are the New Backbone of the Grid

For decades, the mantra of energy stability was “baseload”—the idea that we needed massive, constant power sources like coal or gas to keep the lights on. But the wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t shine at 6:00 PM during a winter cold snap. This is where the concept of energy flexibility enters the chat.

The shift we are seeing with projects like the Glenbrook-Ohurua Battery represents a fundamental pivot in how national grids operate. We are moving away from rigid power generation and toward a dynamic system where energy is treated like a commodity that can be stored, shifted, and deployed in milliseconds.

Did you know? The Glenbrook-Ohurua project utilizes Tesla’s Megapack 2 XL system. These aren’t your average home batteries; they are grid-scale behemoths designed to stabilize entire regions of a power network instantaneously.

From 100MW to 300MW: Scaling for National Security

One battery is a pilot; a cluster of batteries is a strategy. By expanding from an initial 100MW capacity to a projected 300MW through the “Battery 2.0” initiative, the scale of impact shifts from local stability to national security.

From 100MW to 300MW: Scaling for National Security
Industrial

When a system can power the equivalent of 132,000 homes during peak demand, it does more than just prevent blackouts. It removes the reliance on “peaker plants”—those expensive, carbon-heavy gas or diesel generators that only run a few hours a year but pollute significantly.

This scaling trend suggests a future where Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) act as a shock absorber for the economy. By storing cheap, surplus renewable energy from hydro and wind during low-demand periods, the grid can avoid the price spikes often caused by global energy shocks.

The Industrial Synergy: Co-location Strategy

There is a reason these batteries are landing on sites like New Zealand Steel’s Glenbrook facility. Co-locating storage at industrial hubs provides two critical advantages:

  • Existing Infrastructure: Industrial sites already have high-voltage connections to the national grid, slashing the time and cost of installation.
  • Demand Management: Heavy industry is often the largest consumer of power. Having storage on-site allows for “peak shaving,” reducing the strain on the public grid when residential demand spikes.

The Rise of the ‘Hybrid Energy Hub’

The future isn’t just about batteries; it’s about the synergy between generation and storage. We are seeing the emergence of Hybrid Energy Hubs—locations where solar, wind, and BESS coexist.

Contact Energy build grid-scale battery in Auckland

A prime example is the pairing of large-scale storage with projects like the Glorit solar PV plant. A 150MW solar farm is incredible for daytime energy, but without a battery, that energy is wasted if the grid is already full. When you pair solar with BESS, you turn an intermittent resource into a reliable, 24/7 power source.

Pro Tip: For businesses looking to lower energy costs, look into “Demand Response” programs. Many grid operators now pay large consumers to reduce their load or discharge their own on-site batteries during peak times.

Long-term Trends: What Comes After Lithium?

While lithium-ion is the current gold standard for rapid-response storage, the industry is eyeing “Long-Duration Energy Storage” (LDES). While the Glenbrook batteries can support the grid for a few hours, the next frontier is storage that can last for days or weeks.

Expect to see a blend of technologies: lithium for instant frequency control and flow batteries or pumped hydro for seasonal storage. This layered approach is what will eventually allow a country to run on 100% renewables without the fear of a “dark doldrums” period where wind and solar both fail.

For more insights on how infrastructure is evolving, check out our guide on the future of renewable energy or visit the official project page for technical specifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a BESS?

BESS stands for Battery Energy Storage System. It is a large-scale installation of batteries that can absorb electricity from the grid when supply is high and discharge it when demand peaks.

Frequently Asked Questions
Glenbrook battery facility

How do mega-batteries reduce carbon emissions?

They replace the need for “peaker plants,” which are typically powered by diesel or gas. By using stored wind or solar power instead, the carbon footprint of meeting peak demand drops to near zero.

Can these batteries power a whole city?

While they can’t power a city indefinitely, they provide critical “bridge power” for several hours, ensuring the grid remains stable while other power sources are ramped up.

Join the Conversation

Do you think grid-scale batteries are the ultimate solution to energy independence, or should we be focusing more on diversifying our generation sources? Let us know in the comments below!

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