Auckland's highly anticipated Westfield Newmarket mall could open in July

New Zealand's biggest mall, the $790 million redeveloped Westfield Newmarket, will be home to more than 230 stores including some New Zealand-new retailers and may open as early as July.

Westfield Newmarket, owned by Australian property company Scentre Group, has been under construction for two years and will open in three-to-four stages before the end of the year, Scentre Group said on Monday.

The 4.5 hectare site will include two three-level buildings connected by a sky bridge.

The mall will also house Auckland's first rooftop dining and lifestyle area with a water feature running through the middle of restaurants and bars. 

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Scentre Group chief operating officer Greg Miles said on site in Newmarket on Monday that the first stores in the site could open in the third quarter (July to September), with all 220 stores open by the end of 2019.

Retailer Farmers, situated near to its old Newmarket site, is expected to be among the first shops to open.

Several Australian retailers will be introduced to Auckland shoppers in the Westfield mall including premium department store David Jones, entertainment diner Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq by the owners of Holey Moley, and furniture brand Coco Republic.

Kiwi retailers including Rebel Sport, Torpedo 7, Noel Leeming and Kathmandu will also be in the mall, as well as overseas retailers like H&M. 

Two supermarkets have been announced, Countdown and Asian grocery store Tai Ping.

There will be about 2700 car parks located underneath, above and around the shopping centre.

The mall, dubbed a "living centre", will have everything from a gym, entertainment, high-end luxury brands and supermarkets, and has been inspired by Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney. 

Miles said customers were increasingly consuming more than just retail at shopping centres, and Newmarket would reflect this growing trend.

Miles said Scentre Group had worked with traffic networks to minimise congestion in the city.

"We'd expect that the whole of the Newmarket precinct will benefit from increased rail usage and other ways that people will get to the centre, including Uber."

"The streets in Newmarket are really important to the overall visitation and shopping experience. We've been working with the local businesses and business associations to try and make sure that when we open, effectively Newmarket will reopen for business and the whole precinct is seen as stronger for it.

Miles said the mall had prioritised accessibility, with adult changing rooms as additions to most toilets.

"It's become really evident that's something customers want. We want to provide a full suite of things related to all disabilities in this project."

Scentre Group owns 41 Westfield malls in Australia and New Zealand, and had $54.2 billion assets under management.

Miles said the development was on track for its end of year delivery because the company had its own contractors, designed its own projects and was building the mall itself.

"It certainly does help when you do control all parts of the project," he said.