She was assaulted in the rocket lift, now she’s fighting for more security in dilapidated Sky World

The useful part

Is distressed central Auckland entertainment hub Sky World a dangerous building? The victim of a late-night sexual assault who is fighting for security improvements says yes. This feature was made with the support of the Auckland Radio Trust, sponsors of the Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund.

How it works

• I t was late on a Thursday night when Florence* first saw the man: he was whizzing past her floor.
• She'd just sent her staff home, hit send on her last emails and locked the doors when she saw Sky World's rocket ship-shaped lift carrying him to the floor above her.
• It was once a bustling hub of Auckland's Queen Street, but has famously fallen into disarray, with businesses boarded up and sections sealed off.
• Usually, after her shift, Florence would leave via the stairs or the ordinary elevator, but that October 2025 night "on a whim", she decided to run across a bridge and push the button for the rocket ship lift.
• When it arrived, Florence was surprised to see the same man she'd spotted earlier still inside.

What to take from it

She had dealt with break-ins and strangers confronting her during shifts, and she had frequently called security for help. The man in the lift wore black pants and a jacket and she decided he "looked like a normal guy", so she stepped in, passing a sign about the lift's CCTV cameras, and pushed the down button.

Details worth keeping

This story includes an account of a sexual assault. The bright orange elevator has been a place of joy for many. Soon it would mean something very different to her.