SkyCity Entertainment is taking legal action over a project that is six and a half years behind schedule. The casino company blames the construction company for causing extensive delays to the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), which is why SkyCity is suing Fletchers for NZ$330m (US$199m).
Allegations in the complaint include gross negligence and flagrant, persistent, or willful neglect to complete obligations as per the building works contract.
the planned timeline is to open the property in February 2026
The initial catalyst for the slow development was a fire in 2019. While SkyCity attempted to reach an out-of-court settlement with Fletchers, they couldn’t come to a deal. The original finish date of the project was January 2019, three years after development began. Now the planned timeline is to open the property in February 2026.
SkyCity is currently recruiting people to work at the facility. Talking about the project, SkyCity CEO Jason Walbridge said that the convention center is “a project of key importance not only for SkyCity but also Auckland and the wider New Zealand economy.”
Fletchers rejects the casino company’s claims, saying that it did not breach the contract as alleged. It noted that the fire was a setback, as were COVID-19-related delays. Fletchers is unwilling to pay liquidated damages over the maximum amount the building works contract details.
