Auckland Showgrounds is set to reopen following the appointment of a new operator to run the site.
Landowner the Cornwall Park Trust Board (CPTB) has appointed NZ Exhibition & Events Co (NZEEC) to operate the Showgrounds under a temporary licence as an events and exhibition facility while the CPTB secures a new tenant for the site.
The CPTB’s previous attempt to conclude a lease agreement had been delayed by a legal challenge from XPO Exhibitions. As a result, a conditional agreement between the CPTB and film production company, Xytech had been cancelled in August.
CPTB CEO Murray Reade said with the High Court case having been resolved last month, the CPTB was “keen to get the gates open”.
“The past few months have been an extremely frustrating time for us – and for would-be users of the showgrounds,” Mr Reade said.
“While the case was before the Court, we simply could not provide the certainty any organisation needs to commit to a lease agreement – and with the threat of further injunctions hanging over us, we could not even achieve a viable temporary arrangement.”
Mr Reade said the CPTB had used the time to complete a wide range of deferred and important maintenance work to ready the Showgrounds for operation again.
Mr Reade said the CPTB’s agents would shortly be seeking expressions of interest from potential operators, but it would likely take several months to secure an agreement with a new operator.
“Rather than wait for that competitive process to work through before we do anything else, we’ve managed to come to a short-term arrangement that gives event organisers the opportunity to plan with confidence, that gives us revenue to help fund the operation of Cornwall Park, and that gives the people of Auckland the opportunity to enjoy what we expect will be some first-class events,” said Mr Reade.
Mr Reade said NZEEC staff and management knew the Showgrounds and how it worked, had good relationships with event organisers, and were well-respected in the industry.
“We’re looking forward to working with them again,” said Mr Reade.
NZEEC director Mark Frankham said he was already in discussion with exhibitors who had previously used the Showgrounds – and was expecting interest to ramp up once people knew the site was again available.
“We look forward to welcoming everybody back to the Auckland Showgrounds,” said Mr Frankham.
Mr Reade said several parties had already expressed an interest in taking over the lease of the Showgrounds and he was confident the process that would start shortly was the best way to identify the right entity to run the site.
