Shoppers are travelling from around the country to witness today's Ikea launch. 

The mega-retailer will start trading at 11am but the car park will open at 8:30am.  

Heavy traffic's anticipated, including 40-minute queues to exit the motorway at Mount Wellington. 

It could take punters up to an hour just to enter the carpark. 

First Retail Group Managing Director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge it's the most anticipated retail opening New Zealand has seen. 

He says everyone knows about Ikea, but we haven't had it within reach. 

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