A look back at the days-long SkyCity convention centre fire in October 2019, and how it looks now. It was a quiet spring morning when Stuff’s Auckland office learned firefighters had been called to the unfinished SkyCity convention centre complex in the city. READ MORE:* Auckland SkyCity Convention Centre fire: About 1000 court cases affected* SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre fire: Roads partially reopen but commuters warned to expect delays* Auckland Convention Centre fire: Civil Defence says toxic smoke alert worked, despite many not receiving messageThey initially believed they were heading to a large explosion, such was the volume and darkness of smoke billowing from the central city, and feared mass casualties were inevitable. Before the fire, it contracted Weta Workshop and the All Blacks to build attractions in its existing convention spaces, anticipating the New Zealand International Convention Centre opening in 2020. The company anticipated opening the Horizon Hotel, beside the convention centre, at the end of 2021, and the convention centre in 2023.

Source: Stuff October 21, 2020 15:56 UTC