Police end Sky Tower drama

SKY WALK: Police spent several hours talking to man who refused to leave the Skywalk, 192 meters up Auckland's Sky Tower.

Relevant offers

The company offering walks at the top of the Sky Tower will review its safety processes after a man appeared to threaten to jump from the walkway 192m above the ground.

This afternoon, police successfully negotiated with the 40-year-old Auckland man on the 1.2m-wide walkway around the Sky Tower.

"We now have him in custody. He is believed to have mental health issues and is in hospital for a check-up," Inspector Danny Meade told NZPA said.

The man was said to have some immigration problems.

Two police negotiators and several supervisors spent four hours talking to the man at the top of the building. They received the call at 11.25am, and he was successfully talked down at 3.20pm.

Nearby Federal Street and Victoria Street were closed, and an ambulance and high angle fire rescue team was on stand-by.

Dozens of spectators gathered to watch below.

The man did not sustain any injuries during the incident.

SkyJump manager Jennifer Stove said her company had procedures in place to ensure the safety of customers and staff.

People doing the Sky Walk are checked with a wand metal detector like those used by airport security before going outside, and wear a jump suit without pockets covering their clothes.

Walkers are attached in two places, with front and rear attachment points. If someone undid their front attachment, it would be impossible for them to undo the rear attachment, she said.

"We have had 18,000 customers since SkyWalk opened in 2007 and this is the first incident of this nature.

"The processes and procedures in place were implemented exactly according to plan and we are very pleased with the safe outcome of the exercise," Ms Stove said.

" As a matter of course we will be reviewing our processes and procedures."

Sky City executive Peter Treacy apologised to the public for the inconvenience caused by closing the storey, Level 53.

"Prior to today the gentleman was not known to Sky City. We are all incredibly pleased the gentleman is safe."

- NZPA