A timelapse capturing the first 22 months of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) construction. Source: Youtube / Skycity Auckland
SkyCity Entertainment Group won’t open the New Zealand International Convention Centre for another year, citing delays by head contractor Fletcher Construction but Fletcher Building said today there had been no change to its timeline.
In an NZX announcement today, SkyCity said it would be next February before the centre, between Hobson St and Nelson St in Auckland’s CBD, would open.
But Fletcher said there had been no change to its completion date and it still intended that to be by June this year.
A SkyCity spokesman indicated February was better timing rather than later this year.
Asked why February, he said it was a “contingency plus the convention market effectively closes in December and January. This allows time for commissioning.”
Today, Fletcher reiterated its June completion. It told the NZX it “notes SkyCity’s announcement that it is intending to open the New Zealand International Convention Centre in February 2026. Fletcher Building confirms, as previously advised, that it expects to hand over the NZICC to SkyCity by June 30, 2025.”
SkyCity explained its timing more today.
“The New Zealand International Convention Centre will open in February 2026 and will now formalise contracting for conferences being held from that date,” SkyCity said.
“Delays by the contractor means that SkyCity does not expect to commence its own commissioning and operational readiness activities at the NZICC until the second half of 2025 following the delivery of the completed NZICC from the contractor,” it said.
Jason Walbridge, chief executive said: “The date is later than we’d hoped but offers contingency, as well as certainty for our customers.
“We are thrilled to name February 2026 as the date we can open the NZICC’s doors to the New Zealand public and the world.
“The NZICC is a world-class facility that will transform the visitor and events economy in Aotearoa.”
Chief executive Jason Walbridge outside the headquarters of the business. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Pre-Covid and pre-fire, in February 2019, SkyCity was projecting a 2020 opening and said bookings were being made.
This week, the Herald reported only two conventions have been booked so far.
Next year, the International Dairy Federation’s world dairy summit will bring about 1000 people to the centre. In 2028, the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium will be held there.
More conferences are understood to be planned, but the NZICC is yet to say what they are or when they will be held.
Fletcher built the neighbouring new Horizon by SkyCity which opened last July.
Two most recent Fletcher communications indicated the NZICC would be handed over by June this year.
At the annual shareholder meeting last October 23, Fletcher said the construction team completed and handed over the convention centre carparks and the Horizon Hotel, “and the completion of the convention centre is still on track for this financial year.”
That was a reference to the year ending June 30, 2025.
The company’s latest annual report said: “The remainder of the NZICC project, plus remedial works on the Wellington International Airport carpark, are on track for completion through FY25.”
SkyCity is trading down 33% annually around $1.40 Fletcher Building is down 27% to $2.86.
Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
