Wellington Convention Centre moves one step closer with consent lodged

Tuesday, 9 April 2019

An artist's impression of Wellington's planned Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Wellington's long-awaited $179 million Convention and Exhibition Centre has moved a step closer with the lodging of a resource consent.

Given it is Wellington City Council applying to itself for resource consent it would be unlikely for the application to be turned down.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said it would be a notable addition, opposite Te Papa.

The three-storey Convention and Exhibition Centre (CEC) on Cable St, opposite Te Papa, would have about 18,000-square metres of floor space and a dedicated exhibition hall for international touring exhibitions, the council said.

A joint venture between Sir Peter Jackson and Wellington City Council failed in 2018 after the parties fell out over plans to combine a movie museum with a convention centre.

* Director's cut: how Sir Peter Jackson's movie museum deal with Wellington's council collapsed

* Curtain falls on council-Sir Peter Jackson movie museum for capital**

'The building will be a major attraction opposite Te Papa,' Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said.

'Wellington has a reputation for embracing innovative designs and the CEC will be a stunning Wellington building,' he said.

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency general manager David Perks said it meant, for the first time, Wellington could offer multi-day conferences for up to 1500 people and gala dinners for up to 1200.

'All in an incredible space in close walking proximity to restaurants, theatres and hotels. It will be a game-changer for the capital.'

According to a council release, the CEC will boost Wellington's economy by $44.8 million a year and employ 550 people once open.

Construction, which will employ 864, was expected to start in August and should take three years, the council said.