PM Ardern: NZ Will Host APEC Despite Fire Damage to Convention Centre
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that Auckland would still host a major regional conference in 2021 despite a fire ripping through the complex where the event would have been held.
There have been no injuries from the massive fire at the under construction SkyCity Convention Centre, which is spewing thick smoke across New Zealand’s largest city, forcing road closures and keeping workers away more than 24 hours after it started.
The fire had prompted an evacuation of SkyCity Entertainment Group’s entire complex, including hotels, casinos and restaurants when it erupted around lunchtime on Tuesday.
It also raised questions on whether the centre would be ready to host major world leaders and events for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in 2021. Ms Ardern, who visited the site on Wednesday, said that despite the setback, New Zealand would host the APEC meetings as it has in the past.
“APEC in 2021 will still be held in Auckland... there is no question there,” she told reporters, adding that the only question was in which facility it would be held. Emergency services said no one had been hurt in the fire, though a firefighter was treated after feeling ill at the site on Tuesday.
More than 100 firefighters and 25 fire trucks were still battling the blaze yesterday. Hundreds of tourists had to find alternative accommodation on Tuesday as firefighters evacuated and shut down the area. The construction project by Fletcher Building Ltd is valued at NZ$703 million (FJ$987.82m) and is the largest under way in New Zealand.
“In the near term we expect to reopen the rest of the precinct tomorrow ... we’re hopeful the fire will be contained by tonight,”Mr Graeme Stephens, SkyCity’s chief executive.