Fletcher Building finally hands over $1 billion convention centre to SkyCity

Tuesday, 4 November 2025

It has taken 10 long, disaster-punctuated years, but Fletcher Building has finally handed over the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Auckland to SkyCity.

SkyCity Entertainment Group and Fletcher Building said the $1 billion centre had formally changed hands in separate announcements on the NZX on Tuesday morning.

Construction of the centre, which was first announced back in 2013, has been fraught, and delayed by a devastating fire in 2019, Covid lockdowns, and cost blowouts.

But the centre had achieved practical completion and was now with SkyCity undergoing operational commissioning in advance of its planned February 2026 opening, Fletcher Building said.

In its announcement, the construction sector giant acknowledged the setbacks the project faced as a result of the fire. They included structural damage, flooding, mould remediation and complex rebuilding works.

“These events transformed what was already a significant build into one of the most technically demanding projects in the country’s construction history,” it said.

“Prior to the fire, the project had already involved 4.8 million working hours. Since the fire, a further 9.7 million working hours have been completed, highlighting the immense scale and intricacy of the rebuild effort.”

Fletcher Building chief executive Andrew Reding said the handover represented the culmination of an extraordinary journey involving unprecedented challenges, from the aftermath of the fire to complex remediation works that tested every part of the project.

“The completed NZICC is a world-class facility that will attract visitors from around the globe, drive economic activity, and provide a premier venue showcasing New Zealand on the international stage.

“It stands as a testament to the determination, skill and professionalism of everyone involved.”

Fletcher Building was “immensely proud” to hand over an incredible venue to SkyCity that would serve Auckland and New Zealand for decades to come, he said.

SkyCity chief executive Jason Walbridge said taking possession of the centre was a “major milestone” for the casino operator, and it was delighted to finally have the keys.

Not only did the centre represent a significant strategic asset for SkyCity but for New Zealand’s tourism and events sector, he said.

“The NZICC is set to be a powerful catalyst for growth not just for Auckland, but for the entire New Zealand economy.

“It will create more than 300 permanent and part-time roles, while driving significant benefits for tourism, hospitality, retail, and hundreds of local suppliers and businesses.”

Bringing the centre to life had been a journey with complex challenges, but everyone who had played a role in it had helped to create “something truly unique that we can all be very proud of”, he said.

“We can't wait to deliver world-class experiences for everyone who visits, whether it be an international conference for 3000 delegates, national awards ceremonies, or more local or community events.”

Once officially open, the centre will be the largest conference, exhibition, and entertainment venue in the country, with capacity for up to 4000 attendees. Its theatre can seat 2850 people, while the hall can host 3300 people for a banquet.

To date, over 100 events have been confirmed for 2026, including two of Australasia’s largest association conferences – The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, with 1600 and 1750 attendees expected respectively.

In addition, 28 international conferences have been confirmed over the years to 2028, including the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium in 2028, which is expected to attract 2000 delegates.

The centre is projected to attract 33,000 new international visitors annually, and contribute about $90 million in new economic spending.

Its opening is eagerly awaited by businesses, including new hotels such as the Intercontinental and Hotel Indigo, in the area.

But while the handover marked a turning point in the centre’s troubled history, legal action still casts a shadow over the development.

SkyCity is suing Fletcher Building for $330m in damages for losses sustained after lengthy delays to the centre’s opening, while Fletcher Building took the subcontractors it blames for the fire to the High Court earlier this year and is waiting for the judgment.