A national convention centre in Auckland

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE

22 May 2007

A national convention centre in Auckland

A national convention centre in central Auckland would become a reality if a new high-level business case succeeds.

The business case was developed with input from a convention centre steering group made up of representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Economic Development, Auckland Regional Council, Auckland City Council, the Committee for Auckland and the New Zealand Convention Association.

As part of the feasibility process, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre chief executive, Leigh Harry, visited Auckland to share with councillors and stakeholders international industry trends and key learnings from the development of Melbourne’s facility, which is due to open in 2009.

Mr Harry said the convention and exhibitions market has grown significantly world wide with 5315 associated meetings in 2005, of which Australia and New Zealand secured only 4 per cent.

“We need to focus on growing the industry in our part of the world to capitalise on potential business opportunities by having facilities that are attractive to the market. This is challenging but crucial if our cities are to compete internationally,” says Mr Harry.

Councillor Richard Northey, the council’s Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee chairperson, says that world-class convention centres like the one now proposed for Auckland generate significant economic benefit.

“These convention centres attract world class leaders in specialist disciplines. They add to a city’s international profile and generate return tourist and business visits. The proposed facility would be a major new landmark for Auckland,” says Mr Northey.

Mr Northey says the proposal is based on global market analysis, New Zealand’s existing capabilities and consultation with the industry.

“The business case analysis shows that a convention centre of the scale proposed would generate about $65 million annually to New Zealand’s GDP, create thousands of jobs and attract a wide spectrum of international conferences and events.”

The proposed 2500-seat convention centre would cater for numbers similar to the Sydney and Melbourne convention centres, have an exhibition space of approximately 10,000m2 and feature:

- a dividable plenary auditorium

- a high-tech flexible flat floor space for exhibitions and banquets (5500m2)

- a medium-tech flexible flat floor for exhibitions (2500m2)

- pre-function space (2000m2)

- flexible break-out space (1000m2).

Mr Northey said Auckland City Council’s “in principle” support for the proposed convention centre is an example of the council’s continuing commitment to the Auckland region and to meeting the growing need for world-class exhibitions and events.

“We’ve programmed some funding in our long-term plan and have indicated that we will provide access to available land. However, while supporting the proposal, the council will not accept responsibility for being the major funder of the proposed centre.

“It would be a national convention centre and it is our strong opinion that any package must be the product of a partnership approach,” says Mr Northey.

“We welcome the consideration of new funding tools for the city as part of a funding package.”

A preferred location within the CBD is yet to be decided.

ENDS

www.aucklandcity.govt.nz

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