Village Skycity Cinemas plans new complex in Hamilton

Village Skycity Cinemas today announced plans to open a new multiplex cinema at Westfield Chartwell in Hamilton as part of a major redevelopment of the shopping complex.

Village Skycity Cinemas is a joint venture, in which Sky City Entertainment's subsidiary Sky City Leisure has a 50 per cent interest.

The new six-screen cinema complex will have seating capacity of 1380 seats, with five mainstream auditoria, a Mega-Screen (large screen and cinema) and an interactive games area.

Westfield anticipated the redevelopment would begin in mid 2005, with the complex opening for trade in the second half of 2006.

Village Skycity chief executive Joe Moodabe, said the incorporation of the company's cinemas with Westfield shopping centres was a highly successful combination.

Westfield and Village Skycity have also recently finalised agreements to develop cinemas at the planned Westfield Albany Town Centre in north Auckland, Westfield's Queensgate redevelopment in Wellington and at Westfield Manukau City in Auckland. The developments will take place in 2005 and 2006.

Shares in Sky City Entertainment were up 1c at $5.10 this afternoon, having ranged between $4.22 and $5.18 over the past 12 months.

- NZPA