As one of the fastest growing areas in South Auckland, the rural service town of Pukekohe continues to evolve into a thriving urban centre – one where significant investment is being made by forward-thinking businesses, developers and private investors.

The investment market is homing in on well-tenanted properties in key locations and is expected to rally for a Manukau Road industrial offering with a long term lease to a national and international tenant.

The property at 164-166 Manukau Road is centrally-located, neighboured by a diverse mix of businesses of varying scale, and occupies circa-1,695sqm of freehold land zoned Business-Light Industry with around 36 metres of street frontage to busy Manukau Road. The dual 1970s’ low maintenance warehouse buildings were refurbished by the vendor in 2022 with the programme of works including a new roof, new roller doors and a refreshed exterior.

The property comprises two virtually mirror image warehouses totalling 914sqm linked by a generous 235sqm central canopy, and a fully-concreted front yard for customer parking and delivery/logistics efficiencies.

The tenant, GPC Asia Pacific Limited trading as NAPA Auto Parts, is on a new 8-year lease with two, six-year rights of renewal, with the property returning net annual income of $250,000 plus GST and outgoings. The lease includes rent reviews benchmarked to CPI every two years and to market on renewal.

GPC Asia Pacific is a leading automotive aftermarket trade and specialist supply business, successfully operating across a 21-strong New Zealand NAPA-branded network, around Australia, and as part of the GPC group which operates in 17 countries.

Shane Snijder and Mike Hook of Bayleys Pukekohe are taking the Manukau Road property to auction on Tuesday 24th June, unless sold prior, and based on recent activity in the market, are expecting good interest.

“It’s hard to keep up with the growth and evolution of Pukekohe,” says Snijder. “In recent years, tens of millions of dollars have been invested in the area through new commercial, industrial and residential development initiatives and high-level refurbishments. The strong commercial and industrial lease commitments and the tenant profiles we’re seeing here reinforces the sector-wide value seen in Pukekohe.”

The examples set by automotive heavyweights Ebbett Group and Toyota, agricultural dealership Power Farming, and Bunnings Trade Centre, which is directly behind the subject property, have set the tone for what smart new development looks like in the town and other activity is notable, too, says Snijder.

“Woolworths undertook a major refurbishment on its Pukekohe supermarket last year, global giant Starbucks has opened a flagship drive-through branch, McDonalds opened a new building in a high-profile location in 2023, and the new purpose-built private health centre Franklin Hospital has brought comprehensive healthcare including specialist services to Pukekohe.”

Pukekohe has a strong local economy and has recorded above average population growth expanding by nearly a third between 2013 and 2023, with Auckland Council projecting the town will be home to around 50,000 people in the next 20 years.

Hook says Pukekohe has shrugged off its former backblocks agricultural service town reputation – while remaining an important hub for local farmers and producers – and emerged as a thriving urban destination and business centre.

“The level of confidence seen in the town is really encouraging and it’s becoming a desirable and sought-after place to live and work. There are residential developments of varying scale progressing and having good uptake, such as Paerata Rise, Bremner Road, and Belmont Estate, with smaller developments at Glenbrook, Waiau Pa and Patumahoe.

“NZX-listed Fisher and Paykel Healthcare’s commitment to land in nearby Karaka to build a second research, development and manufacturing campus signals the value the South Auckland market can offer for proactive entities looking to grow.

“Infrastructural investment into the transport network will further support the push into Pukekohe. The completion of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail electrification