Ikea has arrived in New Zealand, and even the country’s leader came out to celebrate

Eager shoppers in New Zealand counted down “3… 2…1” and waved Swedish flags as the doors opened to Ikea’s most distant outpost from its motherland.

Thunderous applause rang out Thursday as crowds rushed inside the furniture mecca’s newest shop in Auckland, in a long-awaited opening that will finally give Kiwis access to Scandinavian staples like the BILLY bookcase and the MALM bed frame.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon cut the ribbon and hailed the arrival of the affordable furniture giant as a win for New Zealand, which is struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Mr. Luxon said. “What it represents is really good foreign investment in New Zealand, and also really great jobs.”

The first Ikea store opened in Sweden in 1958. The retailer is now in more th