This is a selection of some of the more interesting tweets about the National Government’s latest announcement about the funding and arrangements of the SkyCity national convention centre. The most recent are first. [Read more below]
Why does #SkyCity get to reduce commitment w/o consequence?
So SKYCity gets more pokies,we get more gambling addicts + the social cost,an eyesore of a building and a white elephant facility
Commentator at @TheNBR: dubs Convention Centre #Skysore Gold. Hope it sticks. #SkyCity http://www.nbr.co.nz/sky-convention-centre-ck …
If you think that the government hs come out of the Sky City debacle with any credit think again. #SkyCity #nznationalparty
SkyCity won't much care about the size of the centre; remember they're in it for the gambling concessions. Deal now improved in their favour
TV news predictably suckered into calling this a "SkyCity backdown"
Joyce, on being presented with revised plans by SkyCity: "What is this? A New Zealand International Convention Centre for ants?"
Skycity announce it's convention centre blocks now 10% smaller due to increased price of fudge.
@watershitdown Skycity employs Cadbury PR consultant to convince public to accept smaller convention centre due to escalating price of cocoa
See I think the NZ govt should be supporting the Sky City Convention Centre. It'll create Auckland jobs & boost commercial tourism.
Given how spectacularly well we negotiated the Sky City contract, we need not have any concerns over TPPA negotiations.
This Sky City deal isn't free: - 27 yr extension to Sky's Gambling Rights - More pokies and tables - Cashless machines - Land Not free.
CORRUPTION: THE MUSICAL! Brought to you by John Key, Steven Joyce and SkyCity. Putting the con right back into the convention centre #nzpol
@nzherald So they build a smaller conference centre than promised and still get all the extra pokies they wanted? Great deal for SkyCity.
John Key extremely happy with news of Skycity back-down, just shows the power of backroom poll driven pragmatism working for New Zealand.
Sky City to relocate a few ex state house to site as new convention centre. #wontbeugly
Steven Joyce claims big win over over negotiating Skycity back-down which is in no way connected to public outrage...
5 days ago key said SkyCity CC could be an eyesore if no extra Govt funding. So has Joyce just negotiated us an eyesore for pokies deal?
So if SkyCity are going off to redraw the plans, that means govt agreed to the whole thing, without knowing what was on offer #bloodyidjits
The govt did a terrible job at handling the whole business. The public had to voice there opposition before skycity backed down.
There is no winners in this Skycity fiasco. Skycity still gets its pokie machines and we get an even shit convention centre.
If the CC is ten percent smaller than originally contracted, ten percent should be knocked off all concessions.
Would make more sense to say the govt has backed down on the size of the centre they want for the concessions.
I don't really see how this is a "backdown" by SkyCity. It's about 10% smaller than what the deal was for. http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/66210105/skycity-backs-down-over-auckland-convention-centre-topup …
Govt to donate Beehive to SkyCity. "We felt bad, it was the least we could do."
Incredibly happy that Sky City backed down, and the Government held firm, so that there is no taxpayer contribution.
Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
Re #SkyCity Will new design compete with SYD MEL BNE SIN? Can it make profit? Any OPEX subsidy? Who carries risk if CAPEX goes over $402m?
BREAKING: SKY CITY REVEAL DESIGN OF THEIR NEW AUCKLAND CONVENTION CENTRE TO RESEMBLE A GIANT, EXTENDED FINGER.
I don't get why everyone is rejoicing over the #SkyCity news. We're still giving gambling licences to get, a now, smaller convention centre.
So SkyCity can build less than what was agreed upon - can Govt now take away some pokies and reduce license extension? ... What a cluster
We were told SkyCity centre was going to be a dog if built to the original budget, but now it isn't? How's that work?
Reading about all this re-negotiating on the Sky City convention centre is making my eyes sore.
Nice try but no banana Skycity like kenny says you gotta know when to holdem and know when to foldem!
Skycity and the Govt rolled the dice and they both lost (or have they?) but New Zealanders win. It's not the last of it though IMHO #nzpol
Between Sky City and Victoria Square thats twice in recent weeks public pressure has forced Nats to change plans on urban things.
Should we really 'praise' the government for deciding not to do something really fucked up and corrupt because of public pressure? #SkyCity
Joyce should also come clean on how much of a gift to SkyCity it is, that the Government is letting them use ex-TVNZ land to build a hotel
If it's going to be "smaller" shouldn't they hand back some of the pokie machines? #SkyCity
In exchange for changing our laws SkyCity now promises to get some pot plants and new curtains.
Jessica Williams @mizjwilliams
So can anyone explain @MatthewHootonNZ's logic - that cheaper necessarily means uglier? @_jeremyhansen?
> Jeremy Hansen@_jeremyhansen
@mizjwilliams @MatthewHootonNZ @JoeDescartes Cheaper doesn't equal uglier but it sure as hell increases the risk.
SkyCity has agreed not to pursue a financial contribution from the Gov and will instead amend its design to eyesore specifications..
so the SkyCity deal just got shittier, but National are painting it as some great victory
Haha, loving the right wing spin! "skycity backed down" - not Key and Joyce, after all the outrage on all sides.
@stevenljoyce plays double or nothing with Nigel Morrison and wins. #skycity
Perfect Mike Hosking @MikePerfectHosk
WTF? No government funding for the SkyCity convention centre after I called for it! And straight after Valentine's Day. This is not perfect.
Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
(1/3) If I contract to build you a 5-bedroom house with a swimming pool for $2m …
> Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
(2/3) … but then you agree I can build you a 4-bedroom one with only a hot tub for the same $2m …
> Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
(3/3) … then I have come out better than you in the negotiations. Does our press gallery understand this? Do MPs? I bet @nztreasury does.
Matthew Hooton @MatthewHootonNZ
Stupid headline by @NZHerald. Should be: "#SkyCity allowed to build smaller, uglier CC for same regulatory price." http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11402393 …
I guess Key realised it wasn't worth burning that much political capital for sky City
Hamish Rutherford @oneforthedr
SkyCity backs down over convention centre top-up http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/66210105/skycity-backs-down-over-convention-centre-topup …
> Matthew Hooton@MatthewHootonNZ
@oneforthedr It's not a backdown at all. They get to build a smaller, cheaper, uglier CC for the same regulatory-relief package. They win.
> Hamish Rutherford @oneforthedr
@MatthewHootonNZ cheaper than another one they haven't built? Can Morrison get back around the negotiating table with govt ever again?
SkyCity will amend design of NZ International Convention Centre - no funding required from the Government http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/skycity-amend-design-nzicc …
Patrick Gower @patrickgowernz ·
Steven Joyce slipping through dodgy Sunday pokies deal announcement to stem damage and avoid tough questions. #dodgyas
