Ministerial Statements — Fire, Auckland—New Zealand International Convention Centre, SkyCity

The Government is closely monitoring the situation with the fire at the New Zealand International Convention Centre and is thankful that everyone is now safe. Firefighters are doing an incredible job managing the fire and bringing it under control, and are working long hours to fight the blaze. I want to acknowledge the efforts of the firefighters, police, paramedics, and other first responders. All New Zealanders are incredibly grateful for your efforts. At this stage we do not know the cause or the extent of the damage; the priority is still making sure that the fire is contained and that our first responders and members of the public are kept safe.

Earlier today the Leader of the Opposition spoke of the pride that the construction workers had shown when he visited the site. I also visited the construction site a couple of weeks ago and I came away with the same impression. We all will understand their disappointment, and hope that the damage to the project is not too great. I also want to take the opportunity to thank Aucklanders for the patience and grace they have shown dealing with the disruption in traffic. It’s heartening to hear that the hospitality and hotel industry has reached out and offered support to SkyCity, offering to accommodate their guests and provide other support. It speaks to who we are as a country—always willing to lend a hand, to show kindness, and to help each other out.

The Government is monitoring the situation closely. It’s too early to say what the impact is going to be on the construction timelines for the convention centre and the flow on effects to tourism and businesses in the area. Once SkyCity and Fletchers are able to get onsite and assess the situation, we expect to be advised of any delays or the impact on the build project. The convention centre entails significant investment, and its impending completion was shortly to have delivered significant economic development in Auckland, attracting thousands of visitors and stimulating the local economy. It’s too early to know the impact that the fire will have on the hosting of major events, but the important thing for now is that we support the workers on site, the first responders, and everyone else who is affected. The thoughts of the whole Parliament are, I’m sure, with the firefighters continuing to fight the blaze, in intense heat and in thick clouds of smoke.

I’d like to thank the Minister for the information he has provided the House, and, on behalf of the National Party, recognise the tragedy of the fire at the SkyCity convention centre. I also want to recognise the very brave men and women of the New Zealand fire and emergency services, as well as other responders who have continued to work tirelessly to put this fire out.

Along with the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Bridges, I, too, visited the construction site a short time ago. The people we met, the construction workers, showed great pride in their work achievement. This is a significant project for New Zealand. Our thoughts are with the hundreds and hundreds of people who have worked on this project since its conception. For many of them this was a lifetime of work and they, along with others, will be feeling a profound sense of loss at this time. APEC 2021 is of considerable significance for New Zealand, and a SkyCity convention centre is to play a very large part in the way New Zealand will host this international event. The Opposition, the National Party, pledges to work as closely as we can with the Government, because although we now must wait to see exactly the degree to which damage has occurred, it is not conceivable, as we stand here having watched photographs on our televisions, that the SkyCity Convention Centre can play much, if any, part in the hosting of APEC.

We must give those on the ground at SkyCity and Fletcher and others time, along with their insurance companies, to work through the significant magnitude of this fire, but we also must ensure that New Zealand is able to meet its obligations in its hosting of the APEC event and many others.

Today, it’s fair to say that this project has not always enjoyed cross-party support in this House. However, it is equally important that all of Parliament puts aside those differences in support of the men and women on the ground of SkyCity and Fletcher who are feeling that loss today, and that the residents of Auckland Central know that all of the Parliament will continue to support them.

I’d like to support the sentiments of my colleagues expressed here in the House today, particularly for workers and residents who at the moment have no certainty about the safety of their ordinary days and the gridlocked nature of where the city is at at the moment from this event, which is concerning to all of us.

I would just like to put on record: I was asked by the public to check in on where the people who live rough on the streets of Auckland City are able to go to and whether their wellbeing, considering the smoke danger, is being monitored. I have reached out to organisations like Lifewise and Auckland City Mission to check in on that, and I just wanted to let the members know that there is monitoring happening for all residents, including those for whom the actual streets are also their home. Thank you.