A morning karakia has been held at Farmers' Tauranga CBD site to mark the official start to the landmark redevelopment.

A group of kaumātua led by Tamati Tata, councillors, Farmers' managers and contractors gathered at the Elizabeth Street and Devonport Road corner today for a karakia (blessing) before demolition starts on the main Farmers building.

Plans for the more than $100m redevelopment were submitted for resource consent after extensive public consultation, including with Ngāi Tamarāwaho, the Ngāti Ranginui iwi hapū whose people traditionally lived in the area.

'Ngāi Tamarāwaho hold the mana whenua for the site, which is at the heart of its rohe,” says kaumātua Buddy Mikaere.

'Ngāi Tamarāwaho supports this project and considers that the redevelopment fits with its aspirations for the city centre. Ngāi Tamarāwaho is pleased to see the site being put to useful purpose.”

The site is being redeveloped by Elizabeth Properties Limited, part of the James Pascoe Group that owns Farmers and other iconic New Zealand brands.

The Group's property project manager, Brett Nicholls, says he is proud kaumātua led today's ceremony and to have Ngāi Tamarāwaho backing the project.

'Today marks a very exciting milestone for the project,” he says.

'We acknowledge Ngāi Tamarāwaho's ancestral ties to the site and are working closely with representatives to include design features that reflect this history.

'A local artist is designing a large cultural mural along the Devonport Road side of the building at street level, which we are excited to incorporate into the design.”

Brett says it was important to respect the site's history, and to ensure that the new building complemented Tauranga City Council's plans for CBD public spaces.

The Farmers CBD store closed its doors on July 29 and will trade from Tauranga Crossing at Tauriko from September 6 while the new CBD building is being constructed.