Pak’nSave Highland Park: Opening, Hours, Wages, Ownership

There’s a certain buzz in East Auckland that comes with a new supermarket opening, and the arrival of PAK’nSAVE Highland Park on 25 February 2025 is no exception. This store isn’t just another grocery outlet — it’s the first Foodstuffs North Island opening of the year, promising over 250 new jobs and a fresh approach to low-cost shopping in the area.

Opening date: 25 February 2025 ·
Operating hours: 7am – 10pm daily ·
Parent company: Foodstuffs North Island ·
Online services: Click & Collect and online shopping available

Here are the essential facts about the store, as confirmed by official sources.

Who owns Paknsave Highland Park?

PAK’nSAVE Highland Park is owned and operated by Foodstuffs North Island, the same cooperative that runs hundreds of PAK’nSAVE, New World, and Four Square stores across the North Island. The cooperative model means the store is effectively owned by its member-owners — local grocers who share in the buying power and distribution network.

Who is Chris Quin?

Chris Quin is the Chief Executive Officer of Foodstuffs North Island, the parent cooperative behind the Highland Park store. Quin has led the organization through a period of significant store upgrades and new openings, including the Highland Park project. Under his leadership, the cooperative emphasized job creation and lowering grocery prices for New Zealand communities (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park).

What is Foodstuffs North Island?

Foodstuffs North Island is a grocery cooperative that serves as the parent company for PAK’nSAVE, New World, and Four Square stores across the North Island. It operates on a member-owned model, meaning the stores are owned by individual grocers who collectively benefit from the cooperative’s buying power. The cooperative is one of New Zealand’s largest private employers (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park).

The cooperative model ensures profits are reinvested locally.

How much do you get paid at Pak N Save, NZ?

Wages at PAK’nSAVE stores across New Zealand vary by role, experience, and location. PAK’nSAVE Highland Park created 250+ jobs and described its wages as “competitive” (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park). Exact hourly rates for specific positions were not published on the store’s official page, but industry data and job listings provide a picture.

What is the average salary at Pak’nSave in Auckland?

According to job listings and employee reports, typical roles at Auckland PAK’nSAVE stores include:

• Checkout operators: approximately NZD $22–$24 per hour
• Grocery assistants: approximately NZD $23–$26 per hour
• Butchers and bakers: approximately NZD $25–$30 per hour
• Department managers: approximately NZD $28–$35 per hour

These figures are estimates and may vary. PAK’nSAVE Highland Park explicitly stated that its wages are “competitive” within the local market (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park).

Does Pak N Save have a staff discount?

Yes, PAK’nSAVE employees receive a staff discount as part of their employment benefits. The exact discount percentage was not specified on the store’s official page, but it is standard practice across Foodstuffs stores in New Zealand. Staff discount applies to groceries purchased at the store where the employee works.

What this means: Workers need to evaluate total compensation, not just hourly rates.

Is Pak nSAVE Highland Park open?

Yes. PAK’nSAVE Highland Park officially opened its doors on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, and has been serving customers daily since (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park). The opening was the first store launch of 2025 for Foodstuffs North Island (Supermarket News).

What are the opening hours?

The store is open every day of the week from 7:00am to 10:00pm (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park). These hours apply to all days, providing consistent access for shoppers across early morning and late evening. During extreme weather events, the store may adjust hours — PAK’nSAVE advises checking the local store’s Facebook page for updates (PAK’nSAVE News).

Does it offer online shopping and click and collect?

Yes. PAK’nSAVE Highland Park offers both online shopping and Click & Collect services. Customers can order groceries online via PAK’nSAVE’s online store and pick them up using a dedicated drive-through area (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park). Online grocery prices are aligned with in-store prices under the chain’s low-price policy.

Implication: The store’s hours and digital services meet modern shopping expectations.

What was the old name of Pak N Save?

PAK’nSAVE has always been the brand name. There is no “old name” — the chain was founded under the PAK’nSAVE name and has remained that way since its inception as part of Foodstuffs. The distinctive yellow-and-black branding has been a constant in New Zealand grocery retail since the first store opened.

When was Pak’nSave founded?

PAK’nSAVE was founded by Foodstuffs as a discount grocery brand in New Zealand, with the first store opening in the 1980s. The chain grew rapidly through the 1990s and 2000s, becoming one of the country’s three major supermarket brands alongside New World and Countdown. The Highland Park store represents one of the newest additions to the network.

Why was the name changed?

The name wasn’t changed — PAK’nSAVE has been the consistent brand identity since inception. The only variation is the typographic styling (PAK’nSAVE, Pak’nSave, Pak N Save), which is purely a formatting difference, not a name change. The chain’s core mission — “New Zealand’s Lowest Food Prices” — has remained equally steady.

Takeaway: No historical rebranding exists; the name is consistent.

Which supermarket pays the highest wages?

Wages across New Zealand’s major supermarket chains — PAK’nSAVE, Countdown (owned by Woolworths), and New World — are broadly comparable, with differences driven by role, collective agreements, and location. PAK’nSAVE Highland Park stated its wages are “competitive” (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park), and industry comparisons suggest that Foodstuffs stores generally pay in line with market averages.

How does Pak’nSave compare to Countdown and Woolworths?

While exact comparison data for Highland Park specifically isn’t available, general industry patterns show:

• PAK’nSAVE (Foodstuffs): competitive wages, staff discount, cooperative ownership
• Countdown (Woolworths NZ): roughly similar base rates, different collective agreement structures
• New World (also Foodstuffs): often slightly higher wages in management roles, similar entry-level pay

The key difference is the cooperative model — PAK’nSAVE’s profits return to member-owners rather than shareholders, which can influence how wage budgets are allocated.

What is the most popular grocery store in New Zealand?

Market share data from industry analysts shows PAK’nSAVE consistently ranks among the most popular grocery stores in New Zealand, particularly for price-conscious shoppers. The chain’s “Lowest Food Prices” positioning has made it a household name, especially in lower-to-middle-income areas. In East Auckland specifically, the new Highland Park store is positioned to serve a growing community that previously had fewer discount grocery options.

What this means: Job seekers should evaluate total compensation and career growth.

Confirmed facts

• PAK’nSAVE Highland Park is owned by Foodstuffs North Island (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park)
• Opening date: 25 February 2025 (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park)
• Operating hours: 7:00am – 10:00pm daily (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park)
• Click & Collect and online shopping available (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park)
• 250+ new jobs created (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park)
• Dedicated drive-through for Click & Collect (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park)
• Seafood servery, butchery, bakery, and deli departments (PAK’nSAVE Highland Park)
• First Foodstuffs North Island store opening of 2025 (Supermarket News)

What’s unclear

• Exact wage figures for all positions — PAK’nSAVE stated wages are “competitive” but hasn’t published a pay scale
• Staff discount percentage — confirmed as available, exact percentage not disclosed
• Specific specials schedule — weekly specials are posted in-store and online, but no advance calendar published
• Whether the store’s upgrade details (new flooring, bakery oven) are verified
• Whether the store accepts American Express — FAQ states no, but no official source
• Return policy specifics for online orders — FAQ mentions accepts returns, but details unclear
• Whether price matching is offered — FAQ says no, but not sourced
• Whether the store’s history of upgrades is confirmed by Foodstuffs

Quotes from store and community

“PAK’nSAVE Highland Park is the first store opening of 2025 for Foodstuffs North Island.”

— Supermarket News, via Supermarket News

“Our aim is to provide New Zealand’s Lowest Food Prices.”

— PAK’nSAVE Highland Park official page, via PAK’nSAVE

“The opening adds more choice and New Zealand’s lowest grocery prices to East Auckland.”

— PAK’nSAVE statement, via PAK’nSAVE News

“The store was presented as a flagship location for the local community.”

— PAK’nSAVE Highland Park page, via PAK’nSAVE

Summary: What this means for East Auckland

The arrival of PAK’nSAVE Highland Park in February 2025 is more than a ribbon-cutting — it’s a structural shift in East Auckland’s grocery landscape. For local shoppers, the cooperative model means prices tied to local members rather than distant shareholders, with online shopping and drive-through pickup adding convenience that older stores lack. For job seekers, 250+ roles with competitive wages and staff discount represent a tangible employment boost in a tight labour market. The pattern is clear: this isn’t just a new store — it’s a test of whether cooperative pricing can pressure competitors in a region that has long needed more options. For East Auckland families, the choice is straightforward: shop cheaper, work locally, or both. The opening bell has rung, and competitors will be watching.

Frequently asked questions