An artist's impression of the International Convention Centre in Auckland. Photo: Supplied / SkyCity
The long-delayed International Convention Centre in Auckland has formally been handed over to SkyCity several years behind schedule.
It marks a major milestone in a project, that when works began in 2015, was supposed to take 38 months.
"We're delighted to finally have the keys," SkyCity chief executive Jason Walbridge said.
The convention centre has not just taken extra time, it has also taken extra money.
It is also still at the centre of a legal battle, with SkyCity saying earlier this year it was suing Fletcher Building for damages from losses citing breaches of contract.
It claims there was negligence, including a massive fire in 2019, and that it was entitled to more than $330 million in contractual damages.
Fletcher Building said it would vigourously defend itself.
The legal wrangling is expected take several years.
Damage from the 2019 fire. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
How it all began
A press release on Christmas Eve 2015 announcing the start of works captured the excitement around the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
It was called a landmark building - budgeted at $700m and tipped to create 1000 jobs during the build and 1000 more after across conventions, hospitality and retail.
"This is a day many in the travel, tourism, and conventions industry have waited many years for," the then SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison said.
They would have to wait many more years.
Fletcher Building, which also built the Sky Tower, said it did that in two years and delivered on what was thought to be an impossible deadline.
It was not able to do the same with the International Convention Centre.
News headlines through the years reported ongoing delays and additional costs.
When it was first announced in 2013, the International Convention Centre had a $402m price tag, Len Brown was Auckland's mayor and 2017 was the opening date.
It came out of a deal with the government - SkyCity would meet full costs, and it would get an extended casino licence, more pokie machines and more gaming tables.
A few months later SkyCity bought land from TVNZ for $10.6m.
Smoke fills Auckland city from the convention centre. Photo: RNZ / Danielle Street
The fire seen across Auckland
The fire broke out on the convention centre's roof in October 2019, and took more than 150 firefighters, 30 appliances and more than 50 hours to bring under control.
Smoke billowed over Auckland's central business district and left a pungent smell in the air.
Roads closed and buses were diverted.
Neighbouring TVNZ soon evacuated, the Auckland District Court shut down and nearby businesses - including SkyCity's own hotel and casino - closed their doors.
By the end of the fire there was 8 million litres of water used to fight it flooding the basement car park, leaving about 100 cars submerged in 1.5 metres of water.
Auckland had another mayor by this point, Phil Goff, who asked people to keep away.
Public health authorities encouraged city residents and workers to stay indoors if possible, and one academic warned toxins in the smoke were likely carcinogenic.
The massive blaze, which broke out on the centre's roof and took 10 days to fully put out, was later found to be accidental.
A report from FENZ said it happened when the top layers of a waterproof membrane were being laid on the roof.
"Our investigators concluded the fire started after the cardboard inner of a cap sheet roll was momentarily exposed to a flame from a worker's gas torch and began to smoulder," FENZ regional manager Ron Devlin said at the time.
"After smouldering unnoticed inside the roll, an intense fire developed that burnt through the top layer of the cap sheet, and then spread across the level 7 roof membrane."
Fletcher Construction said it relied on subcontractors for specialist work.
What SkyCity says now
SkyCity says it now cannot wait to deliver what it says will be world-class experiences for visitors.
"Whether it be an international conference for 3000 delegates, national awards ceremonies, or more local or community events," chief executive Jason Walbridge said.
"It's been a journey with complex challenges, but together we've created something truly unique that we can all be very proud of," he said.
SkyCity said the International Convention Centre would be a powerful catalyst for growth in Auckland as well as the wider country.
It was expecting more than 300 permanent and part-time jobs.
More than 100 events have been confirmed for next year after the centre finally opens in February.
It is being touted as the country's biggest and most versatile venue for conferences, exhibitions and entertainment with capacity for up to 4000 people.
Its theatre will be the country's largest seated theatre with space for 2850 people and the hall can fit 3300 for a banquet.
The handing over means SkyCity has formally taken possession from Fletcher Construction.
What Fletcher Building says
The construction company said in a statement to the NZX the handing over follows the building achieving 'practical completion'.
"The NZICC project has endured significant setbacks and challenges as a result of the 2019 fire, including structural damage, flooding, mould remediation and complex rebuilding works," it said.
"These events transformed what was already a significant build into one of the most technically demanding projects in the country's construction history."
Fletcher said the project already notched up 4.8 million working hours before the 2019 fire and another 9.7 million since, "highlighting the immense scale and intricacy of the rebuild effort".
The company said it extended its thanks to the Auckland community for its patience and support during construction and remediation.
SkyCity said there would now be operational testing and commissioning ahead of February's opening.
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