WORK has begun on a hotel project billed as China’s biggest-ever investment in New Zealand’s tourism infrastructure after New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key ceremonially broke the ground yesterday.

    The event marked the start of construction of a five-star Park Hyatt Auckland hotel at a landmark site in downtown Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city and home to a third of its population.

    Key was joined onsite by executives of Beijing-based property developer Fu Wah International Group, which is investing 200 million NZ dollars (US$134.74 million) in the project, representing one of the largest foreign investments in New Zealand’s tourism infrastructure.

    Fu Wah won development rights for the 195-room hotel after a global investor search process in 2013 led by the land owner, Auckland City Council organization Panuku Development Auckland.

    It will be the first Park Hyatt hotel in New Zealand, and one of only 37 worldwide.

    The construction will be a joint venture between Chinese and New Zealand-based companies, with details of the partnership to be announced in April.(Xinhua)