Wellington's chamber of commerce says the city can't afford not to build a convention centre.
The city council's plan for a joint convention centre and film museum has been overwhelmingly supported in submissions made at a meeting this morning.
The council predicts the venue opposite Te Papa will generate $38 million a year for the city.
Chamber of commerce chief executive John Milford said with hundreds of millions of dollars being poured into convention centres in Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, the capital must compete or risk losing vast numbers of visitors.