Overseas investment decision for case 202300649 - General Distributors Limited and Wholesale Distributors Limited

The Applicants are part of the Woolworths Group, one of the largest supermarket operators in New Zealand. The Applicants are the asset holding vehicles for Woolworths Group’s Woolworths, FreshChoice and SuperValue branded stores.

This standing consent (non-residential use and incidental residential use tests) has been granted under section 23A of the Act. Residential (but not otherwise sensitive) land acquired under this standing consent will be used for:

• the development and operation of supermarkets (in some cases together with ancillary retail and/or commercial premises), or
• the development and operation of facilities in support of the supermarket business,

in the ordinary course of business of the Applicants.

This standing consent permits the Applicants to acquire up to 75 hectares of land in New Zealand in a maximum of 15 transactions by 28 February 2027.

The Applicant must notify Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand each time it settles a transaction under the standing consent.