A
major redevelopment project aims to keep Auckland on an upward trajectory
and attract business to the waterfront
here
are some cities whose future can be safely predicted as one of healthy
growth and vitality. Auckland, the former capital of New Zealand, is
one.
The ‘City of Sails’ contributes about 17 per cent of the country’s
$100 billion gross domestic product (GDP), while the Greater Auckland
region of seven local authorities accounts for 30 per cent.
City mayor John Banks describes himself as an “obsessive-compulsive”,
determined to ensure the city stays on an upward trajectory. “I’m
aggressive about moving Auckland forward. I want to get the city moving
and I’m very ambitious.”
Lying
between the natural harbours of Waitemata and Manukau, Auckland has
grown rapidly over the past 30 years.
Dominated by business and finance, it is now the second-largest conurbation
in the world after Los Angeles, says the mayor.
During his three-year term of office, Mr Banks says a new $75 million
exhibition and convention centre with capacity for 3,500 people will
be built. “We are also going to build a world-class indoor arena,
so we can host international events and concerts,” he adds.
A
blueprint for the redevelopment of the city, from the wharves to the
harbour bridge, is in preparation and $4 billion will be poured into
new projects. With Auckland enjoying an international reputation for
yachting and providing easy access to the country’s finest scenery,
the tourism industry is growing, and in turn this will attract more
people to stay there. Not least because the 31st America’s Cup
starts in February 2003 and Team New Zealand will be defending their
crown.
The one-year-old Hilton
Auckland has added yet another cosmopolitan element to the city.
Built on the old Princes Wharf and adjacent to the Viaduct basin, where
the America’s Cup village is based, the hotel is uniquely surrounded
by water giving each of its 166 rooms a terrace or balcony overlooking
Waitemata harbour.
A contemporary design gives the hotel the appearance of a great cruise
liner moored at the wharf. As one enjoys the peace and quiet of the
waterside view, it is difficult to believe that the city’s bustling
business district is only 300 yards away.
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Ingram
‘I
want to get the city moving and I am very ambitious’
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“Since
the last Americas Cup in 2000, there has been all this foreshore development,”
says hotel general manager John Ingram.
“The city’s commercial centre is actually moving down to the
waterfront, so the Hilton is in a very good position to benefit from
all these new developments.”
About 60 per cent of guests are corporate businessmen and the hotel
is geared towards meeting their needs. Every room has a workstation
with internet access.
“One advantage of doing business out of New Zealand is that, time-wise,
we are always ahead of the world, so you always have two or three hours
of productive time in the morning before you’re bombarded with
messages from the rest of the world,” says Mr Ingram.
“Another unique facility of the hotel is its conference and meeting
area, which doubles up as the international cruise ship terminal, which
is mainly in the summer months as that is the down-time for corporate
business,” he adds.