It does not seem 20 years since the Sky Tower rose on the Auckland skyline, it seems longer. It seems like it has been there forever. Aucklanders now dimly remember how contentious it was when first proposed and when it first appeared. It dwarfed the tallest buildings around it and looked quite out of scale. But not for long.
Today the skyline has risen to the waist of the tower base and we can be glad of the foresight of the designers that should let the landmark stand out for another at least 20 years.
It was a public relations masterstroke for the casino that built it and has used its lighting to reflect the events and excitements of the city and provides fireworks from the tower on New Years' Eve. SkyCity, now also 20 years old, is providing much more than a gambling venue, it has helped to finance the fine restaurants that have turned Federal St from a back alley into a popular dining precinct.
Now the company is building the country's largest convention centre at no cost to the taxpayers and while its price, more gambling capacity at the casino, made the convention centre contentious too but it will probably become another source of civic pride when it appears.
In the meantime, the Sky Tower continues to delight children at every first sight and adults too if truth be known. It has become as important to Aucklanders as Rangitoto and the bridge, an icon, a beacon of the city. Happy birthday.
