2 December 2025
Flaxmere Woolworths Build Forging Ahead
A major new build is taking shape in Flaxmere, with TW Group’s construction arm, TW Construction, leading the delivery of a state-of-the-art Woolworths supermarket, a project set to transform the heart of the growing Hastings suburb.
The 3,460m² full-service supermarket, complete with an additional retail tenancy and 171 customer car parks, will sit behind the existing Flaxmere shopping precinct, bordered by Swansea Road, Caernarvon Drive, Pam O’Keefe Avenue and Te Ara Moeke.
The development comes at a crucial time for the community, following the closure of Flaxmere’s New World supermarket in January 2024, which left locals with limited supermarket options. The new Woolworths will restore a much-needed full-service supermarket to the area.
TW Property, the development arm of TW Group, is behind the project, purchasing the land, scoping the development, and brokering the agreement for lease with Woolworths New Zealand. CEO Terry May said the development represents a milestone for both Flaxmere and the locally owned TW Group.
“We are thrilled to be able to deliver a supermarket to the people of Flaxmere in partnership with Woolworths,” he said. “It was important for us to use our own in-house teams, from civil, construction, and trades, to deliver this amenity for residents.”
TW Construction Project Manager Sam Lee says the team has been on site since July, working towards a June 2026 completion deadline. The fast-paced programme reflects TW’s collaborative approach, made possible by the close coordination between the 14 businesses operating under the TW Group umbrella.
“Because TW Property managed the design and we were involved early, we were able to identify areas that might cause delays and find faster, more efficient construction solutions,” says Sam. “That early integration between developer and builder saves time and ensures the buildability of the design before it even goes in for consent.”
The construction process is a showcase of TW’s vertically integrated model in action, a model that allows them to handle every stage of a project, from land development and civil works through to finishing trades and landscaping. All subcontractors are engaged early to align scheduling, allowing each trade to move smoothly through the build and maintain momentum on site.
TW Construction’s large Napier office houses many of the trades required for a project of this scale, including electricians, plumbers, plasterers, painters, landscapers, and concreters, enabling daily communication and rapid problem-solving when challenges arise.
“It makes it really easy to work together,” Sam says. “We can often spot potential problems before they happen, and if one area needs speeding up, we can reallocate resources internally to keep the site moving.” The team’s integrated approach also supports quality control and consistency across the build. As Sam explains, each phase is tightly sequenced to ensure efficiency.
The design itself combines high performance with strong local character. The pre-cast concrete panels feature etched patterns inspired by the Flaxmere community, while the modern supermarket will include a spacious mezzanine, generous staff facilities, and high-spec finishes throughout.
“We’re building a state-of-the-art supermarket with local customers front of mind, from the internal layout right down to the details etched into the exterior panels,” says Sam. “We’ve got a great site team, and a few of them actually live in Flaxmere. That personal connection gives everyone extra motivation to make sure the build progresses as efficiently as possible.”
Once complete, the supermarket will not only bring a major new retail amenity to Flaxmere but also create valuable job opportunities for locals, boost the suburb’s growing economy, and strengthen its town centre.
TW Property is also behind several other key developments in Flaxmere, including the planned redevelopment of the town centre, new affordable housing projects, and the proposed racecourse development, all of which continue to shape the future of this thriving, close-knit community.
Source: Business Central Magazine – December 2025 edition