Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium – design description

What does the Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project look like in a nutshell?

The spectacular vision, which was co-designed by architects from the well-known American practice HKS, was created in response to a long debate about a major stadium for Auckland and all of New Zealand – and a decent home for the All Blacks.

The design features a highly unique form, referencing Maori culture as well as the historic shape of Auckland's waterfront. The U-shaped structure is semi-open, but thanks to a retractable roof and a giant doors, it could turn into a hermetic structure, resistant to harsh weather conditions.

The stadium could become an architectural symbol not only of Auckland, but of all New Zealand – some even drew comparisons to the famous Sydney Opera House.

The facility was planned close to Auckland's city center, and since it is difficult to find a convenient plot of land there, it was to stand over the railway tracks – adjacent to the Spark Arena. The site was formerly home to a small bay, which the Maori called Te Tōangaroa.

The project competed with several other visions, and in the final phase Auckland councillors chose between it and a plan to expand the well-deserved Eden Park – in the end the choice fell on the Eden Park 2.1 project.

How did the Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project come about?

Why is a new stadium needed in Auckland?

To date, the role of Auckland's main stadium has been played by Eden Park, located about 4 km south of Auckland's inner city. Its history dates back to 1900, and over the years it has grown to become one of the most important sports venues in New Zealand and is sometimes even referred to as the national stadium. The facility has hosted many international events and has become a stronghold of New Zealand's national rugby team (widely known as the All Blacks).

Eden Park is suitable for both rugby and cricket matches. Multifunctionality is an advantage on the one hand, while on the other hand it is pointed out that rugby should be played in a stadium dedicated to this sport. The facility, moreover, is no longer among the most modern, and continued investment generates rising costs and has so far failed to make it profitable.

For some time, therefore, there have been calls for a new stadium to be built in Auckland, with a rectangular pitch that the residents of New Zealand's largest metropolitan area could be proud of and that would be worthy of the All Blacks' games. The issue of building a new stadium has grown over the years into a wide-ranging community discussion, with the involvement of many people, including top local and national officials, and the presentation of various ideas and concepts.

What concepts for a new stadium in Auckland have been presented so far?

The first serious approach to the topic of building a major new stadium in Auckland took place after New Zealand was selected in November 2005 to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup. At the initiative of the government, a concept was created in 2006 for the so-called Stadium New Zealand, which was to accommodate 60,000 spectators and be located on Bledisloe Wharf, right next to the city center. In the end, however, it was decided to upgrade Eden Park and the new stadium was not built.

In subsequent years, new proposals were made. One of the most interesting was the Auckland Waterfront Stadium project, unveiled in 2018. The facility was to be built on the same site where Stadium New Zealand was planned in 2006. What made the concept unusual was that the stands were to be dug deep into the ground, so that the vast majority of the auditorium would be below the water level of the nearby bay, and some would even be below the bottom of the bay.

In April 2023, the Eden Park expansion project was announced – among other things, the stadium was to receive a retractable roof. Shortly thereafter, the creators of the earlier Auckland Waterfront Stadium project announced a return to work on their concept.

Seeing the interest of parties in the stadium project, in September 2023 the city invited interested bodies to submit their proposals, one of which would be supported by the authorities, so that the dispute, which had been going on for years, would be resolved and Auckland would get a modern, representative stadium.

When was the Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project conceived?

One of the new proposals for the city was a vision put forward by the Te Tōangaroa Consortium, led by Cenfield MXD Limited. The concept was first presented to the wider public on February 9, 2024, when the renderings were published in The New Zealand Herald.

Who created the concept of Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium?

The vision was created by architects from the high-profile HKS studio, in collaboration with Buchan, TOA Architects, Boffa Miskell, Aurecon, Robert Bird & Partners, Barker & Associates and Turner & Townsend. The concept was also consulted with the New Zealand Rugby Union and the local Maori tribe, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

What does the concept of Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium entail?

The architects proposed a very original form for the stadium, referring to Maori culture, as well as to the historic shape of Auckland's waterfront. The U-shaped structure is semi-open, but thanks to a lockable roof and huge doors, it can turn into an airtight building, resistant to adverse weather conditions.

The fancifully shaped roof extends beyond the perimeter of the stands, linking the stadium to a themed hotel, with branding dedicated to the All Blacks. With its unusual design, the facility is poised to become a symbol not only of Auckland, but of New Zealand as a whole, perhaps even on par with what the Sydney Opera House is to Australia.

How is Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium to be used?

The stadium will be equipped with a rectangular field, allowing for rugby, rugby league and football. The stands were designed to hold 55,000 spectators. As Auckland's representative sports venue, and the largest and most modern stadium in the country, it shall de facto serve as New Zealand's national stadium, replacing Eden Park in that role.

The NZ Warriors, Auckland Blues and Auckland FC teams would play here, as well as New Zealand's rugby team, the All Blacks. It is also possible that the stadium would become the venue for occasional NFL games and major international sporting events. The facility would also be open to hosting concerts and other cultural events.

Where the Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium would be built?

The facility is to stand in Quay Park, close to the bay and downtown Auckland, next to the Spark Arena. The stadium is to be built on a platform with railroad tracks running underneath. The stadium is only part of a larger development project, which also includes the construction of four hotels, apartments, stores, bars, restaurants, offices, as well as public spaces and green areas.

Have there been proposals to build a stadium in Quay Park before?

This was not the first proposal to build a stadium in Quay Park. The location was hinted at as early as 2016 by then newly elected Mayor Phil Goff, and was also considered in a feasibility study commissioned by the city in 2017. In 2018, a major development plan with 4,000 apartments, as well as a stadium next to Spark Arena, was created by local architecture firm Archimedia.

Where did the name Te Tōangaroa come from?

Historically, the area where the stadium was planned was part of a small bay called Mechanics Bay, or Te Tōangaroa in the Maori language. At the turn of the 20th century, the waterfront was widened, gaining additional land. The name of the project (Te Tōangaroa) refers exactly to the name of the former bay, used by the Maori.

How would Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium be built?

The cost of the facility is not known, but loose estimates put the amount at around NZ$1 billion. The originators of the initiative assure that the investment will be financed solely with private funds. Construction of the stadium, according to preliminary calculations, could take 5-6 years, and implementation of the entire development project could take more than 15 years.

What are the chances of Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium being built?

The project was a response to a call from the city and an ongoing discussion for years about building a new stadium in Auckland. There were three competing visions: two were for new stadiums to be built on the waterfront, close to downtown – at Wynyard Point (National Stadium at Wynyard Point) and at Bledisloe Wharf (Auckland Waterfront Stadium); the third proposal was to expand Eden Park (Eden Park 2.1).

On May 31, 2024, the City Council narrowed the list of projects under consideration to two: the Eden Park expansion and the construction of the new Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium.

The bold Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project definitely stood out from the other concepts. The Eden Park expansion, on the other hand, was argued in favor of its more than 120-year tradition. In both cases, however, there were funding concerns, especially since the City Council did not intend to contribute to the investment.

In the end, on March 27, 2025, the City Council voted to support the Eden Park expansion project.

Does the City Council's decision to support the Eden Park expansion mean the end of the Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project?

The City Council's decision significantly reduces the chances of the ambitious Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project coming to fruition. However, it should be noted that the City Council has only made a recommendation, and since it does not fund any of the projects itself, its influence on the fate of the investment is limited – the Eden Park expansion is still dependent on raising funds (including from the state budget).

If Eden Park is expanded, the construction of a second, competing stadium would be unlikely to make much sense, but if the investment does not receive financial support, a return to discussions on the Te Tōangaroa Auckland Stadium project is possible – its initiators assure that they are able to implement it solely with private funds.