He refused to reveal ticket prices, give a precise opening date or say which films might screen first.
Mid-November has previously been mentioned as a possible cinema opening date but nothing has been confirmed.
Whether ticket prices will be the low $10 is also yet to be announced but in Dunedin, Reading's tickets start at $10 each, undercutting much of the competition.
"Dunedin is now the home of amazing value," Reading said of its cinemas there. "All standard 2D tickets are just $10 and 2D premium tickets are just $15."
See video: Revealed - LynnMall's big extension:
Smith would only say: "Having a point of difference is a great starting point."
However, he did say that more details might be available towards the end of next week.
The LynnMall theatres are spread over a third of a hectare of floorspace and have one giant Titan theatre with a four storey-high move screen and 460 seats which will also boast Dolby Atmos audio technology, said to give a 3D sound experience. The screen is 20m wide by 11m high.
Two premium theatres have their own premium lounge and no standard seats within the theatres.
A further five theatres range from 75 seats up to 200, allowing a big range of films to be screened from blockbusters to art house.
For 14 years, New Lynn has not had a cinema and the development is part of a $39 million extension by listed landlord Kiwi Property which is also adding a new dining precinct with seven outlets.
The dining precinct opens today at noon.
