Pakūranga fire: Family rebuilds popular Middle Eastern grocer after devastating blaze

New Zealand Herald · Vaimoana Mase · 2026-11-06 16:00 UTC

Syrian brothers opened the business about 25 years ago in Pakūranga, East Auckland.

(From left) Sam Saad, Ibrahim Hatem and Ahmed Reynolds-Hatem, of Pita House in Pakuranga. The family business was started by a pair of Syrian brothers more than 20 years ago. Photo / Michael Craig

Ibrahim Hatem stands in the middle of his family’s new store and can come up with only one word when asked how he feels to see it open again.

“Happy,” he says, with a hand on his chest, becoming emotional.

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