The NDG Auckland Centre is a proposed tower block consisting of a Ritz-Carlton hotel skyscraper in Auckland, New Zealand. If the tower is built, it would become the second tallest building in New Zealand at and the second-tallest freestanding structure in Auckland after the Sky Tower. The project was first announced by the Dae Ju Group as the 'Elliott Tower', with planning permission granted in 2007, but general economic trends halted further progress as of April 2009, and in mid-2012 the site was sold to Chinese hotel developer, Furu Ding. Furu Ding announced in early 2014 that the development would proceed as the NDG Auckland Centre, but as of 2022 there is no start date set for construction. Project history The site on Albert St was originally occupied by the Royal International Hotel before it was bulldozed by Chase Corporation in 1987 for a high-rise development that never proceeded. After a succession of owners, the Korean-based Dae Ju Group purchased the site in 2003. Elliott Tower was granted planning permission in October 2007 (with the subsequent building consents still outstanding), and would be located on the block bounded by Elliott, Victoria and Albert Streets, on an empty lot which is currently being occupied by a car park and a reverse bungy ride. The tower was originally proposed at 232 m (761 ft). However, a late 2007 Environment Court appeal had to be successfully resolved before the building could go forward. SkyCity Auckland, owners of the nearby Sky Tower, alleged that the building would interfere with the use of communications equipment installed on the tower, and lead to future conflicts over privacy within the new apartments which could conceivably be seen into from the tower. Law firm Philips Fox DLA also joined the appeal, claiming the tower went against planning policies. By the end of June 2008, these appeals were dropped after an out-of-court settlement, clearing the way for the Elliott Tower to proceed. Construction was originally scheduled to start in 2009, with an estimated completion date of 2013. The project was dormant due to the 2008 financial crisis. In December 2013, the chairman of the Auckland Business Forum Michael Barnett suggested that the construction of the tower would begin in the next two years, along with the construction of the SkyCity convention centre. However, due to complications of the City Rail Link being constructed beneath the site of the NDG