With Auckland retail opening up, we’re celebrating the accessibility features of some of the most welcoming retail spaces that Auckland has to offer.
Over the past year, we’ve seen some amazing commitment to providing accessible experiences in the retail space, and its awesome to see businesses recognising the value of accessibility, and welcoming access customers into their spaces!
With Auckland opening up, now is a great opportunity to celebrate some of these achievements, so let’s hear it for Botany Town Centre, Lynn Mall and Sylvia Park and what they’re doing well! Find out more about more below:
Botany Town Centre is a large open plan shopping centre with more than 200 stores spread over three complexes. It has a welcoming environment, is easy to navigate with a spacious unimpeded route and well set out retail spaces and good lighting. Lifts or ramps are alongside any steps, and a number of accessible toilets are available throughout the centre.
The onsite customer service team are friendly and well-trained to help visitors of all abilities. A wheelchair and mobility scooter are available to hire and guide and service dogs are welcomed on the premises.
At the customer service desk, you can also pick up a Centre Directory that has a map of the facility, and also includes the accessibility features of Botany Town Centre (including accessible toilets and ramps).
We love that the website has an easy-to-find accessibility page, with lots of helpful information, including information about the accessible route, mobility parking and services provided at the customer service desk.
Accessibility information can be found on the website under the “Centre info” tab, or click the link below:
https://www.botanytowncentre.co.nz/centre-info/accessibility/
LynnMall Shopping Centre is New Zealand’s oldest retail centre. Kiwi Property have been working hard to improve access despite the building’s age. Featuring more than 140 stores offering an exciting mix of retail, entertainment and dining, LynnMall is a one-stop shopping and entertainment hub for the whole family.
The customer service team are welcoming, and helpful, and trained in providing accessibility information for visitors with different access needs. Navigating throughout the mall is straightforward, thanks to the wide, uncluttered and well-lit pathways and corridors. Lifts in the complex are accessible with wide automatic opening doors and internal grab rails for support. Visual signals alert visitors to the floor they have reached and braille designated call buttons ensure people who are Blind or visually impaired are able to use the lifts independently. A number of accessible toilets are available throughout the shopping centre.
For those who are driving, several accessible car parks are located on every level and close to all main entrances (see website accessibility page for detailed locations).
There is an accessibility page with helpful information on the website, and you can navigate to this from the menu at the bottom of each webpage. Or click the link below:
https://www.kiwiproperty.com/lynnmall/en/accessibility/
Sylvia Park Shopping Centre is NewZealand's largest shopping facility, and is another outstanding facility from Kiwi Property. It has over 200 different stores, including major and specialty retailers, banks, and medical, dental and Plunket services, and a cinema complex.
Set over two levels, lifts provide good access between the ground floor and level 1, and to and from the multi-level carpark. With over 4,000 parking spaces there is dedicated mobility car parking available near the lift entrances. (Visit the website accessibility page to find out the exact location of all of the mobility parks or contact the customer service team on 09 570 3777 to discuss which carpark would best suit your needs on your next visit).
Navigating around the centre is straightforward for the access customer as the main entrances are controlled by automatic doors, the aisles are wide with good LED lighting and there is good wayfinding to accessible facilities. Assistance dogs are welcome.
If you do need assistance, the centre’s friendly staff are located at the customer service desk located behind the escalator by Hallenstein Brothers. Here you’ll also find wheelchairs and mobility scooters available free of charge for use while shopping at SylviaPark.
Mobility equipment and prams are available for hire.
There are plenty of accessible toilets and parent rooms which are listed on the accessibility page, and the centre map on the website shows accessible facilities.
Other access features include exit signs which flash during an emergency, and the centre has included braille on their business cards.
We love that there is detailed accessibility information on their website, and an NZSL video outlining the centre’s services.
You can navigate to the accessibility information page from the menu at the bottom of each page, or click on the link below:
https://www.kiwiproperty.com/sylvia-park/en/accessibility/