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The astonishing announcement was made in late May by THE EDGE®, which manages the two venues, following confirmation by Auckland City Council that at this stage it plans to carry out the repairs from November 2008 to September 2010. The construction will repair the civic carpark that lies under Aotea Square and Aotea Centre with a further $24 million earmarked for reinstating and improving the square and facades.

THE EDGE® is part of a steering group that, with Auckland City, is responsible for the Aotea Quarter including the civic carpark repairs. After a meeting of the steering group THE EDGE®, which also manages The Civic, Aotea Square and Auckland Convention Centre at THE EDGE®, is advising clients this period has been ‘pencil-booked’ for major construction work and that event bookings during this time are now unable to be contracted until plans are finalised. THE EDGE® chairman David Wolfenden says repair of the civic carpark is fundamental.

“THE EDGE® has been working closely with council on the timing of the proposed works and agrees that while no particular time is ideal, this is probably the optimal time for this project. Although there will be no finality before six months, THE EDGE® has no option but to advise its clients now,” Mr Wolfenden said.
“Auckland Convention Centre at THE EDGE® is our largest revenue earner and we take an active role in identifying and attracting convention business to New Zealand. Many of these events are bid for and booked years in advance. Our bookings for this period are already substantial and these clients want to proceed to contract,” he said.
“On the advice of council, what we now have to say to them is that while we can take their bookings, we cannot guarantee the venues will be useable and so they will need a back-up. Clearly this news is going to have a considerable impact.”
At the same time however, the work could incorporate a number of other projects outlined in the Auckland mayor’s Outside The Square plan, including the possibility of a purpose-built national convention centre and an underground road.
“The underground road appears to work as an integral part of the Outside The Square plan,” Mr Wolfenden said.  
“The feasibility study of the national convention centre is now into the location identification phase. We can only hope that council and others will seize the expanded, iconic Aotea Centre option for the convention centre and do it all at once so that we can turn this major setback into a good news story for Auckland and New Zealand.”

THE EDGE® is working with partner hotels – Carlton Hotel, Stamford Plaza, Heritage Hotel, City Life, Crowne Plaza, Duxton Hotel, Scenic Circle Airedale Hotel and others including SKYCITY, to ensure as much of its international and domestic convention business as possible is retained in Auckland.
“We have also advised our major performing arts presenters – NZSO, Royal New Zealand Ballet, The NBR New Zealand Opera, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and others, and have begun working through the issues with them. Again, clearly, the impact is going to be substantial.”
All bookings up to November 2008 have been confirmed and are now being contracted. Meanwhile, an Auckland PCO company said its clients had fortunately not been affected, but that it would no doubt be an issue for some conferences.
“The bigger ones would have to look at relocating to SKYCITY Convention Centre or possibly to Christchurch. It would be very disappointing if it meant that a conference wasn’t able to proceed or was moved out of New Zealand due to the temporary closure.”

ABOVE: The Aotea Centre at night.