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| Auckland SkyCity fire | |
|---|---|
| Name | SkyCity fire |
| Caption | SkyTower and SkyCity complex, Auckland CBD |
| Date | 9 October 2019 |
| Time | 20:30 NZDT |
| Location | Auckland central business district, Auckland CBD |
| Type | Structural fire |
| Property | SkyCity Entertainment Group casino, SkyCity Convention Centre |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Participants | SkyCity Entertainment Group, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Fire and Emergency New Zealand |
Auckland SkyCity fire was a major structural fire that occurred at the SkyCity complex in Auckland on 9 October 2019. The blaze affected the SkyCity Auckland convention and casino complex near the base of the Sky Tower, prompting large-scale evacuation, closure of nearby transport hubs, and an extensive response by Fire and Emergency New Zealand. The incident had significant effects on hospitality, tourism and urban infrastructure in the Auckland City centre and drew attention from national media outlets including New Zealand Herald, Stuff (website), and RNZ.
SkyCity Auckland is operated by SkyCity Entertainment Group, a publicly listed company on the New Zealand Exchange and a major feature of the Auckland CBD skyline. The complex includes the Sky Tower, a casino licensed under New Zealand gambling law, the SkyCity Convention Centre, multiple hotels such as the SkyCity Hotel, and hospitality venues that hosted events like the Auckland Arts Festival, Auckland Marathon, and corporate conferences from organisations including Air New Zealand and Auckland Council. Prior to the fire, the site had been involved in redevelopment plans linked to major projects including the proposed convention centre expansion, negotiations with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei over land use, resource consents from the Auckland Council planning committee, and public safety arrangements with New Zealand Police.
The fire was reported during the evening at the SkyCity Convention Centre, adjacent to the Sky Tower and close to Queen Street and the Aotea Square precinct. Initial reports were relayed by emergency call operators to Fire and Emergency New Zealand brigades, which mobilised appliances from central-city stations and specialist units. The blaze generated heavy smoke visible across the Auckland Central Business District and prompted aerial observation by media helicopters and utility crews from Vector Limited. The incident occurred amid scheduled events at nearby venues such as the Auckland Town Hall and the Aotea Centre, leading to rapid cancellation or diversion of activities tied to performers and delegations from entities including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and visiting business delegations.
Firefighters from multiple brigades coordinated under the incident command system used by Fire and Emergency New Zealand, liaising with New Zealand Police for cordons and St John New Zealand for medical triage. Evacuation routes were established through Queen Street and adjacent streets, with support from Auckland Transport services to reroute buses and close tram priorities. The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust stood by for rooftop operations, while building management staff from SkyCity Entertainment Group assisted in evacuating guests from the SkyCity Hotel and staff from the Sky Tower observation decks. Evacuees included delegates from Auckland University of Technology events and visitors attending shows at the ASB Theatre.
The fire caused extensive smoke and water damage to the convention centre, affected electrical systems supplied by Mercury NZ-linked infrastructure, and resulted in temporary closure of adjacent hospitality venues including restaurants in the Viaduct Harbour precinct. The disruption affected scheduled conferences booked by organisations such as Tourism New Zealand and sporting events linked to New Zealand Rugby fixtures. Insurance claims involved underwriters associated with the international markets in Lloyd's of London and local brokers. Commercial impacts extended to retail on Queen Street, flights at Auckland Airport were monitored, and tourism statistics reported temporary dips attributed to the closure of a major attraction in the Auckland CBD. Major tenants and stakeholders, including the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and hotel chains like Accor and Hilton Worldwide, publicly assessed losses and rebooking needs.
Investigations were undertaken by Fire and Emergency New Zealand investigators, technical teams from SkyCity Entertainment Group, and engineering consultants including firms affiliated with the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ). The New Zealand Police assisted with forensic perimeter control while independent assessors examined structural elements and fire-suppression systems supplied by contractors previously engaged under resource consents with Auckland Council. Potential contributory factors under review included electrical faults, cooking equipment from contracted caterers, and failures in active or passive fire protection systems maintained under building consent obligations. Specialists referenced standards from Standards New Zealand and guidance from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment during analysis.
Following the incident, SkyCity faced scrutiny from regulatory bodies including Auckland Council compliance teams, the Department of Internal Affairs (in relation to venue licensing), and WorkSafe New Zealand for health and safety obligations. Stakeholders debated responsibilities under the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Building Act 2004 with potential for enforcement actions, improvement notices, or prosecutions. Class actions or civil claims from affected conference organisers, insurers, and tenants were contemplated with law firms experienced in commercial litigation and insurance law advising on remedies. Parliamentary questions in the New Zealand Parliament and statements by ministers prompted review of urban emergency preparedness coordinated with agencies such as MCDEM (Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management).
SkyCity Entertainment Group announced plans for staged repairs, engagement with international restoration contractors, and upgrades to fire-detection and suppression technology in accordance with recommendations from Standards New Zealand and engineering reports from firms linked to IPENZ. Proposed improvements included enhancement of passive fire separations, replacement of compromised electrical infrastructure, and revised evacuation protocols developed with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Auckland Emergency Management. The capital works program involved coordination with insurers, conditional resource consents from Auckland Council, and consultations with iwi stakeholders such as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for cultural considerations in the rebuild. The recovery influenced debates over resilience of major urban venues in Auckland and contributed to changes in best-practice guidance used by convention centres internationally, including case studies cited by organisations like the International Association of Venue Managers.
Category:2019 disasters in New Zealand Category:Fires in New Zealand Category:Buildings and structures in Auckland