Little Creatures land in Auckland

Australian craft brewer Little Creatures has landed on its first New Zealand site, at Catalina Bay in Hobsonville Point.

The multimillion-dollar development is to include a Little Creatures micro-brewery as well as a restaurant with all-day dining, and is expected to open late next year.

The Catalina Bay site, formerly The Landing, was the home of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and is being converted into a mixed-use space that, as well as the Little Creatures development, would include cafes, offices and a farmers' market.

Apartments will be added in the second stage of the project.

Rory Glass, managing director of Lion New Zealand, which owns Little Creatures, said it would be Lion's first craft brewery in Auckland.

"We're excited to build a venue that will showcase this great brand, and introduce it to a wider audience of beer lovers here in Auckland," Glass said.

"Consumers are telling us that they want places where they can bring the kids, have a meal and enjoy a craft beer. Little Creatures Catalina Bay is going to tick all those boxes."

The Little Creatures development would occupy the historic Sunderland Hangar on the site.

The brewery represents the next stage in Little Creatures' Asia-Pacific expansion, which includes two Australian sites in Fremantle and Geelong, and its first international expansion in Kennedy Town, Hong Kong.

Founded in 2000, the brewer was part of the Little World Beverages portfolio which was bought by Lion in 2013 for an estimated A$380 million ($412m).

The Catalina Bay development is being led by property development business Willis Bond and Co.

Managing director Mark McGuinness said the Little Creatures' tenancy was an exciting addition to the area.

"Willis Bond is pleased to welcome Little Creatures to Catalina Bay in their first foray into the New Zealand market," he said. "The decision works perfectly with our vision for the area."