SkyCity fire alert cuts Vodafone broadband

SkyCity was evacuated this afternoon as a precaution after smoke was seen coming from a plant room. Photo / NZPA

Vodafone internet users were cut off today after a power outage at SkyCity.

A power surge appeared to cause overheating in an electrical room that powers the massive complex in central Auckland.

The room, on the Federal Street side of the complex, was smoke-logged by the time fire crews arrived about 1pm, senior station officer Sulu Devoe said.

Around 200 staff and patrons on the gaming floor and at the bars and restaurants were evacuated.

The SkyTower itself was not evacuated, but due to the power outage Vodafone and other web providers which transmit from the tower were cut off.

Vodafone spokesman Paul Brislen said as the complex had been evacuated, no one was allowed in to switch on a back-up generator to restore the connection.

Vodafone broadband and data users had no access for about an hour.

Ironically, Vodafone was currently in the process of creating another backup system in a different location so that this sort of thing did not happen, Mr Brislen said.

Services were now running as usual, he said.

Vodafone mobile phone services were not affected.