Auckland City Council
Media release

14 May 2010

Auckland steps up bid for National Convention Centre

Auckland City Council has stepped up its bid for the city to play home to a national convention and exhibition centre following yesterday’s City Development Committee decision that will see the council submit an official Expression of Interest to the Government.

The Minister of Economic Development, Hon. Gerry Brownlee, recently called for expressions of interest to identify a New Zealand location to develop an internationally competitive convention centre that can cater for medium and large-scale conferences, exhibitions and business events that venues in this country are currently unable to accommodate.

Mayor of Auckland City Hon. John Banks congratulated the Government for taking “this important initiative to the next level” and added that “as the country’s economic capital, the gateway to New Zealand and home to a world-class hospitality and events scene, Auckland’s city centre is the most suitable location for a national convention centre.”

A detailed feasibility study conducted by Auckland City Council and the Ministry of Economic Development found that New Zealand’s current weaknesses relate to venue scale, quality, and functionality while its strengths relate to destination appeal and support infrastructure.

To successfully compete for large business events on the world convention circuit a venue must be able to host an average of 3500 delegates, including associated activities such as exhibitions.

The study outlines that there will be an estimated annual increase of $85.4 million in tourism-related expenditure as a result of a national convention centre. This does not include the additional benefits to employment and the ability for New Zealand businesses to enhance international relationships.

“This is about developing tangible opportunities that will create jobs, grow the economy and firmly position Auckland and New Zealand on the radar of the international business community,” says Mr Banks.

The proposed complex would look to attract new international business and would compliment existing Auckland venues including Sky City who are proposing to expand their conference facility to host up to 2000 delegates. 

The council has identified five potential locations and will work with the Government to establish a preferred site. The preferred sites outlined in the feasibility study are in the vicinity of The Edge, Sky City land on Hobson Street, the old railway station site on Beach Road and Wynyard Point. Bledisloe Wharf has also been mentioned as a possible location although this is currently unavailable.

“We are at a stage in the process where we are placing all the facts on the table as to why Auckland’s CBD is the most suitable location for an international convention centre,” says Mr Banks.

“The next stage will be to work with the hospitality industry, the Government and other parties involved in this major project to find a site that best fits the city’s future growth strategy and fulfils the Government’s plans to develop a national network of corporate event facilities.”

The feasibility study conducted by Auckland City Council and the Ministry of Economic Development found that:

New Zealand’s competitive position is compromised currently by the lack of a purpose-built, international standard convention and exhibition facility that can cater for large conferences. However, New Zealand continues to attract a small number of international conferences, partly a result of increased marketing.
In order for the convention centre to maximise its economic impact it must be capable of hosting conferences averaging 3500 delegates.

When operational, the national convention centre will attract almost 22,000 additional international visitors per year.

There will be an estimated increase of $85.4 million in tourism-related expenditure per year. Furthermore, there will be non-quantifiable benefits such as improving shoulder and off-peak tourism, fostering commercial links between international and New Zealand businesses, and supporting innovation and knowledge transfer between international delegates and New Zealanders.
The expression of interest will be submitted to the Government in early June.

Ends

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