October 29, 2015 2:00pm by David Farrar

A big boost for Auckland

Construction company Fletcher Construction will build SkyCity’s International Convention Centre and hotel in Auckland.

SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison announced the $477 million contract with the Fletcher to build and complete the design of the 32,000 square metre convention centre, the five-star 300-room hotel on Hobson St, a retail laneway linking Nelson and Hobson streets and 1327 carparks underneath the convention centre.

The projects would create an estimated 1000 jobs during the 38-month build, plus about 1140 jobs once the convention centre and hotel opened for business.

With the tender won, the next stage should be construction.

Having just been to a conference in Dublin held at a dedicated convention centre, you appreciate the difference between a dedicated conference centre and a hotel that say has some meeting rooms. The conference in Dublin had around 2,400 people attending and could never be held in New Zealand without an international level conference centre.