The Auckland convention centre deal

Steven Joyce has announced a heads of agreement with Sky City for construction of an international convention centre for Auckland. The details are:

• Construction cost $402 million
• Capacity will be 3,500 delegates
• Projected economic benefit is $90 million a year
• Jobs estimated to be 1,000 during construction and 800 once up and running
• An extra 33,000 delegates a year expected
• Renewal of casino licence from 2021  to 2048
• An additional 230 pokie machines and 40 gaming tables
• Four new measures to deter problem gambling and money laundering
  • a predictive modelling tool that analyses data to identify players at risk of problem gambling
  • a voluntary pre-commitment system where players can elect to restrict the amount of time they play or the amount they spend
  • doubling the number of Host Responsibility specialists
  • introduction of player identification requirements when amounts over $500 are being put onto, or cashed from, TITO tickets

This reinforces to me what a tough negotiator Steven Joyce is, as groups were talking the agreement could be as many as 500 new pokie machines. The number, at 230, is identical to those granted to SkyCity under the previous Government in 2001 for the development of the existing, and much smaller, Auckland Convention Centre.

This agreement in principle was announced before the 2011 election has been fully transparent and the legislation to enable it will go through Parliament to be debated.

It is also worth noting that the number of pokie machines in New Zealand will continue to decrease overall, just at a slower rate.

1,000 new jobs and an international convention centre bringing in an extra 33,000 high spending tourists a year is a very good thing. I hope Parliament backs the deal.