Wellington businessman Lloyd Morrison, who died of leukaemia in February, lobbied Prime Minister Jon Key personally to consider a public-private partnership for a new convention centre in Auckland.
The Labour Party says Mr Key cut a secret deal with casino operator Sky City Entertainment Group Ltd under which it will develop a centre and be allowed more pokie machines in its casino.
Mr Key has said Sky City was the only bidder prepared to look at a deal that didn't involve Government resources.
Mr Morrison emailed Mr Key's office in August 2010 suggesting the public-private partnership model used to develop the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre be used in Auckland, the Dominion Post reported.
The Public Infrastructure Partners (PIP) Fund, owned by Morrison & Co, an investment firm founded my Mr Morrison, has invested in the Melbourne project.
Under the model the private partner builds and maintains the facility and receives a pre-agreed ongoing payment for making it available for use.
Mr Morrison's "Dear John" message was passed to the office of Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee.
The PIP Fund wanted to build a centre in Auckland's Wynyard Quarter. It has complained that the request for proposals to build a national convention centre had sought only sites. A PIP bid included no information about funding.
NZN