The future of Paihia’s Countdown supermarket was uncertain long before the landlord obtained a court order last week to take immediate possession of the premises and stock.

A family trust associated with Ian Blakeman took a lease from a Maori landowning entity in December 1994, built a supermarket and subleased it to Countdown.

The primary lease to Mr Blakeman’s family trust is due to expire on December 6, 2014. 

It gives his trust an option but not a right when the lease expires – to buy the land or take a new head lease.