AUSTRALASIA – The New Zealand Government has signed a Heads of Agreement with SkyCity to build a new international convention centre in Auckland.
The New Zealand International Convention Centre will cater for up to 3,500 international conference delegates at any one time and construction is expected to begin next year, with the centre to open in 2017.
“The international convention centre is desperately needed and long overdue,” said the country’s convention bureau, Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ).
SkyCity will operate the convention centre for at least 35 years. In the deal, Auckland’s casino operator SkyCity will provide NZ$402m (US$330m) for a new international convention centre under a deal with the government that gives it a massive extension of its casino licence and 230 extra poker machines.
“This is great news for Auckland and for the country as a whole,” said CINZ Chief Executive Alan Trotter. “An international convention centre is something we’ve sorely needed for many years and it is fantastic that finally we’re making headway. What we need to do now is keep the foot on the accelerator and get this facility built as soon as possible.”
It is estimated an international convention centre will boost New Zealand’s economy by more than $100m a year.
“An international convention centre will have a positive economic impact that extends far beyond the boundaries of Auckland City. Many of the delegates who will attend conferences and conventions at the international convention centre will also take the opportunity to travel to other parts of New Zealand so the spin-offs will be felt across the country,” added Trotter.
“Convention delegates spend more than other international visitors to New Zealand, typically around $400 a day, which is about twice as much as leisure visitors. They also come at a time of year when tourism tends to be quiet so they are very important to our industry.”
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce signed an agreement with SkyCity bosses on Monday (13 May) to conclude the controversial deal, nearly two years after the casino company was first chosen to build it.
Joyce said SkyCity will enhance its measures to deter problem gambling and money laundering, including modelling to identify players at risk of problem gambling, a system for players to restrict the amount of time or money they spend gambling and doubling the number of host responsibility specialists.
An independent assessment by KordaMentha says the concessions are ‘reasonable’ for both parties.
A full agreement will be completed by June 14.
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