Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tourism Minister Louse Upston open the New Zealand International Convention Centre, Auckland,
Photo: RNZ / Paris Ibell
The New Zealand International Convention Centre opened its doors for the first time.
It’s been almost 13 years since the government announced the deal for SkyCity to build the Centre in Auckland in exchange for an extension of its gambling licence and permission for an additional 230 slot machines.
Construction has been mired in delays, partly caused by the 2019 roof fire that took more than 10 days to extinguish.
The finished building can fit more than 4000 people, and has been projected to contribute about $90 million a year over the next three years.
At the opening, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told reporters it was an exciting day, and the convention centre showed the government is building a “world class New Zealand”.
He said the centre was likely to bring in more than the forecast $90m.
Photo: RNZ / Paris Ibell
Convention centre general manager Prue Daly said more than 120 events had been booked this year and further bookings extended through the years ahead.
Daly said sustainability would be embedded into the operations of the new centre.
The massive 2019 blaze, which broke out on the centre’s roof, was later found to be accidental.
A report from FENZ said it happened when the top layers of a waterproof membrane were being laid on the roof.
