Fletcher Building chief executive Andrew Reding stood with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to welcome guests at today’s opening of the $1 billion New Zealand International Convention Centre.
The sun glinted off some of the 475 kauri forest-inspired glass panels by artist Sara Hughes as guests stood for the tradition of tangata whenua welcoming manuhiri (visitors) with mōteatea (traditional chants), including He Aha te Hau.
“I speak a number of languages,” Reding said after the ceremony, where the centre was opened by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
The devastating fire of 2019, the heartbreak of lockdowns, Covid, construction delays and an 11-year building programme were all put to one side this morning.
“Please, SkyCity, look after it,” Reding said in his formal speech, naming the architects, contract partners, engineers and SkyCity project team as those who deserved special thanks.
More than 9000 people were inducted on to the site during the New Zealand International Convention Centre’s (NZICC) construction, he said.
“We at Fletcher are extraordinarily proud of the quality of the building.”
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei led the dawn ceremony. Māori cultural consultant, adviser and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei representative Kīngi Makoare called guests inside from the Hobson St ribbon-cutting.
They walked into the foyer, then a vast, darkened ground-floor main theatrette with palms highlighted by fluorescent lights.
Guests gathered in the centre of that area and were then guided by giant spotlights back into the foyer and up two flights to sit for the whaikōrero (speeches).
As they walked, one phrase rang out many times: “Haumie e, hui e,” Makoare chanted, with guests calling back “tāikie e”.
That is in the tradition to signify unity, agreement and completion.
Those in the party included:
The new SkyCity centre took 11 years to build; the casino, 323-room SkyCity Hotel, public areas, bars, 700-seat theatre and restaurants only took two years to build.
The casino celebrated 30 years this month.
Miriama Kamo was the MC at the opening ceremony.
Otene Hopa spoke first, giving a traditional mihi (speech of greeting), followed by SkyCity CEO Jason Walbridge, who said the event marked more than just a building opening.
“It marks the beginning of a new chapter for Auckland and Aotearoa,” Walbridge said.
“It’s more than a world-class venue. It’s a canvas for change, connecting the world and is set to attract more than 33,000 additional visitors this year.”
Luxon acknowledged guests, including Ngāti Whātua chairwoman Marama Royal, and spoke of the financial contribution the centre would make.
“This is hugely exciting for Auckland and more than $90 million is expected to be injected into the economy annually.”
Luxon also paid tribute to former Prime Minister Sir John Key and cited rising business confidence.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said he was proud to attend the opening, considering how long the centre took to build.
Reding said: “This is a day that sometimes we thought might not arrive.”
Royal said afterwards that Reding had been taught the chant by those at SkyCity, including Makoare.
The mōteatea talked about the northwest wind and a vision a tipuna (ancestor) had, relating to the time when Governor William Hobson was invited to Tāmaki Makaurau by iwi.
It particularly marked when he was coming around the back of Rangitoto, she said.
Today’s breakfast included:
Anne Gibson has been the Herald‘s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.