WESTCITY WAITĀKERE celebrates 50 years
WestCity Waitākere has been Henderson's powerhouse commercial and retail space since 1974. And the mall is planning a special programme of events in October to mark its 50th golden anniversary.
‘We have exciting entertainment planned with competitions and prizes,’ Centre Manager Larissa Keil explains. She adds that the opening celebrations had a circus and funfair theme, and the mall plans to continue that with a modern twist for the 50th jubilee.
WestCity Waitākere is a vital part of the West Auckland economy. Around 500 people are employed in the centre, including part-time and casual staff. And the mall boasts 125 shops plus kiosks, including big names like Farmers and The Warehouse. There’s also Event Cinemas and an enticing range of eateries and cafes offering cuisines from across the globe.
The centre has had a special place in the hearts of Westies for decades. WestCity attracts a staggering 5 million visits every year. And despite challenging economic times, the latest foot traffic data continues to track at around 20 per cent up on last year.
‘We are also busy with leasing enquiries, which to me symbolises confidence in the local retail industry,’ declares Larissa.
WestCity has strong links with the local community. The Little Westies kids’ club is hugely popular with parents and youngsters. And the Westie Wanderers Walking Group, for those aged 65+, meets every second and fourth Friday of the month. Larissa says the WestCity site covers five hectares. These energetic walkers enjoy a stroll around the site and finish with a refreshing cuppa at one of the fantastic cafes. It’s a great way to meet new people, make friends and keep fit.
Larissa has been WestCity’s Centre Manager since December 2021. The job is busy and varied, with no two days alike. Larissa heads up a team of 17 and oversees lease management and administration, business and property planning, plus marketing and facilities management. She says WestCity has its own in-house maintenance team.
Larissa has enjoyed a varied career, which has given her the skills needed for the multifaceted Centre Manager role. She started working in commercial property in the 1990s, first in facilities management, then in accounting and general management.
Larissa says her start in commercial property included a portfolio covering Auckland and Hamilton. What is now The Boundary shopping centre was also part of Larissa’s portfolio. Her first contact with WestCity came in 1998 when she helped organise a fashion show in the mall. ‘That was so much fun’, she says.
Larissa moved to Australia and started working in finance and accounting. Upon returning to New Zealand, she continued working in that sector. In 2008, she became the chief financial officer for a commercial property investment firm and ended up doing asset management.
In her time, Larissa has also run her own accountancy business and even imported horse trucks from overseas.
Work keeps Larissa super busy. However, she enjoys riding her two horses and walking her three dogs when time allows. Larissa is also mum to two teenagers, who keep her on her toes.
Since 2022, Larissa has been a board member at Business West. She says membership has helped her better understand what’s happening in the wider area. ‘There’s a great team at Business West, and lots of fantastic work is happening, ' she reports.
Larissa continues, 'I love the heart and community in West Auckland and see this area as having a huge amount of potential and opportunity.’ Being part of Business West has helped Larissa better understand what impacts the centre and how the centre can impact other parts of Henderson. 'We all need to work together,' she declares.
Her priorities for Business West include attracting more business investment and increasing town centre foot traffic. Larissa also wants to make Henderson a more attractive place for locals. To this end, she welcomes Eke Panuku’s plans to revitalise Henderson’s Catherine Plaza. She sees it as an essential step towards creating a more welcoming atmosphere in the town centre for locals and visitors.
WestCity’s golden jubilee celebrations will run from 1 to 20 October. With a circus theme, a host of entertainment and performances is planned, and the full programme has yet to be finalised. Keep an eye on the WestCity website for all the latest news.
In the meantime, there are plenty more reasons to visit WestCity. Check out the dinosaur-themed school holiday programme if you're stuck for entertainment ideas for the kids in the upcoming April holidays. This learning experience also includes a craft activity where kids can paint their own dinosaur sculptures.
WestCity Waitākere has been in business for so many years with good reason. If you haven't visited the mall for a while, with so much in the pipeline, now's the perfect time to check it out.
