Can you remember DEKA?
DEKA was a nationwide chain of general merchandise stores in New Zealand that was launched in 1988.
In 1992 ownership of DEKA shifted to the Farmers Trading Company, which had until then been a competitor. By 2001 all DEKA stores had been converted to Farmers stores.
What happened at your location?
Closed stores...
Northland - 4 (Kaitaia, Dargaville, Kaikohe, Whangarei)
Auckland - 11 (Downtown (Queen St), Karangahape Rd, Manukau, Onehunga, Orewa, Otahuhu, Pakuranga, Papakura, Pukekohe, Takapuna, Glenfield)
Waikato - 5 (Hamilton, Morrinsville, Taupo, Te Awamutu, Tokoroa and, Huntly - the tall sign for the Huntly store still stands)
Taranaki - 5 (Hāwera, New Plymouth, Stratford)
King Country 2 - (Te Kuiti (now a Postie + store), Taumaranui)
Bay of Plenty - 3 (Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatane)
Hawkes Bay - 3 (Napier, Waipukurau, Wairoa)
Manawatu - 3 (Palmerston North, Feilding, Whanganui)
Wairarapa/Wellington - 8 (Coastlands (Paraparaumu), Cuba St (Wellington), Lambton Quay (Wellington), Levin, Lower Hutt (two stores), Upper Hutt to 1994, Masterton, Wainuiomata)
Nelson/Marlborough - 3 (Blenheim, Richmond, Motueka)
Canterbury - 6 (Ashburton, Bush Inn, Northlands Mall, New Brighton, Riccarton, Timaru)
Otago - 4 (Balclutha, Dunedin x 2, Oamaru)
Southland - 2 (Gore, Invercargill)
Rebranded as Farmers.....
Auckland - 3 (New Lynn, Westgate (now closed), Whangaparaoa)
Waikato - 3 (Chartwell (Hamilton), Matamata, Tokoroa (Now closed))
Bay of Plenty - 2 (Rotorua, Whakatane)
Gisborne - 1 (Gisborne)
Hawkes Bay - 1 (Hastings)
Wellington - 2 (Kilbirnie, Upper Hutt)
Nelson - 1 (Nelson)
West Coast - 1 (Greymouth (Now closed))
Canterbury - 3 (Hornby, Eastgate (Now Closed), Timaru)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEKA_(New_Zealand)#Closed_stores
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Image source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections T1651
https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/33622