The latest mall by Waikato, Te Awa is in the process of making The Base one of the biggest retail centers in New Zealand. The mall has 28 stores and was inaugurated by Prime Minister John Key.

It is reported that $120 million was splurged by Tainui Group Holdings on Te Awa, which is the first stage of The Base's new center.

According to news reports, when the mall unlocked its gates at 9 in the morning, around 100 people were waiting outside in anticipation.

When the mall gets fully functional, it will be among New Zealand's biggest employer. It will offer 770 fulltime and 760 part-time jobs. The project will extend over 80,000 square meters of selling space. Sylvia Park in Auckland is its closest opponent, which covers 65,000sqm.

By the end of the year, the mall will have 40 more shops, together with a food court.

TGH Chief Executive, Mike Pohio said that a huge amount of money had been splurged by the Company to skirmish the Hamilton City Council over Variation 21; otherwise, it could have posed hindrance in the development at The Base.

He said, “The Company is committed to finishing the project to ensure returns for its shareholders. If we were to stop the development it would hit at the heart of our role".