Clark David: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeClark David: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 27 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:4028. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]7.Dr DAVID CLARK (Labour—Dunedin North) to the Minister for Economic Development: How much smaller in percentage terms is the floor area of the main exhibition hall at the New Zealand International Convention Centre announced yesterday when compared to the 10000 square metre exhibition space heralded in 2011 when SkyCity became the Government’s preferred development partner; and how many fewer exhibitors does such a reduction represent in a “world-class convention centre”?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development): The member uses an interesting term in his question when he suggests heralding. I cannot actually pinpoint whether heralding occurred but I can tell the member that the proposed size of the exhibition space has varied a lot as this project has developed. For example the Crown’s expressions of interest called for greater than 6000 square metres; Skycity’s initial concept images suggested 10000 square metres but included catering areas. It then became 7500 square metres in the exhibition centre—Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I will hear the point of order but if it is that you have not got your answer yet I think that if we gave the Minister time to answer it may well arrive. The Hon Steven Joyce—if he could give us the answer.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Thank you. It then became 7500 square metres following independent advice from Horwath HTL as to what was required. It then became 8500 square metres at concept design followed by 8768 square metres at the first preliminary design stage and now dropping to 8100 square metres in the revised preliminary design. For completeness and to be helpful to the House the percentage movements are up 67 percent down 25 percent up 13 percent up 3 percent and down 7.6 percent and for the member’s particular example down 19 percent. In terms of how many exhibitors each change represents that would depend on how much space each exhibitor occupied.Dr David Clark: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I understand that the first part of my question was answered. If we could just look at strictly the second part—and it was a question on notice.Mr SPEAKER: The second part was also answered as well.Dr David Clark: There is a definition that they are working with of what a world-class—Mr SPEAKER: In my opinion there was absolutely no doubt the question has been answered. If the member wants to now take it further the answer is using a supplementary question.Dr David Clark: What is 2850 as a percentage of 5000?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am not quite as good at the old mental calculations as I was in the old days but 2850 as a percentage of 5000 is definitely more than half and definitely less than 60 percent.Dr David Clark: When the maximum conference capacity in the Skycity deal announced yesterday is just 57 percent of the maximum capacity mooted before other bidders were knocked out of the process which the Auditor-General described as neither transparent nor even-handed how can he say the taxpayer is getting a good deal?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am sorry for the member but the supposition in his question is incorrect on about three levels.Dr David Clark: What value has been attributed in the final deal to the additional income Skycity has received as a result of the laneway retail development?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Actually that is an interesting question. I have been advised of a value of around $4 million and of course Skycity has increased its contribution by $28 million so it would suggest that the Crown is doing better under this revised deal than it was previously.Hon Member: Well it couldn’t get worse.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well it happens to be true.Dr David Clark: How can he tell New Zealanders he has delivered the promised world-class convention centre when he has delivered a convention centre 19 percent smaller which at maximum capacity accommodates just 57 percent of the conference guests mooted when Skycity edged other competing bidders out and which is built off the back of problem gambling?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The member is incorrect in a number of ways and I will take a little bit of time because he obviously did not listen to the answer to the primary question.Hon David Parker: You always do.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: This is an important issue I presume—otherwise the member would not ask the question. The initial expression of interest from the Crown called for 6000 square metres. It then became 7500 square metres following independent advice from Horwath HTL as to what was required. The actual second revised preliminary design is 8100 square metres. I have also sought advice in terms of the current size of the revised International Convention Centre and it has absolutely no negative impact on the initial assessment of economic benefit as supplied by Horwath HTL. So the member is simply wrong and trying to create a figure and then subtract a percentage is frankly—although typical—actually quite silly.