In Christchurch, the Te Kaha stadium is being built with a capacity of 30,000 spectators. Of these, 25,000 seats will be permanent, while the remaining 5,000 will be temporary and will only be installed if needed.

Progress is becoming more visible, all according to schedule

The project is within budget and on track for completion in April 2026, about four years after its approval. The stadium will become the new home of the Crusaders and will undoubtedly host significant All Blacks matches, many of which have been absent from Christchurch since the 2011 earthquake destroyed Lancaster Park. While awaiting the completion of the stadium in Christchurch, many supporters choose online activities. To do so, they check https://www.nzcasino.co.nz/best-payout and take advantage of reviews of the best online casinos.

© Te Kaha

In the past month, progress has been made on the roof, walkways, sidewalks, grandstands, and food service areas. Kent Summerfield, the project director from the Christchurch City Council, stated that a key milestone was the relocation of the giant hydraulic towers supporting the roof installation. Each roof section weighs up to 160 tons and is pre-fabricated on site, then lifted with a crane, welded, and bolted into place. Three such sections are needed to cover the entire field, from east to west. As the roof construction proceeds as planned, painters have already arrived on-site to touch up exposed steel and apply the final coat of paint. Preparatory work for the installation of the facade cladding and stadium seating is also progressing well. The grandstand and bowl will feature artwork created by local artist from Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Morgan Darlison.

The finishing works on the western stand are advanced, and work is also progressing on the other stands. The western stand will house player facilities, guest apartments, and multimedia rooms. "We’ve also started framing the food service points in the southern stand," said Summerfield. Te Kaha stadium will feature a total of 23 food service points and three bars.

The city is seeking funds to complete work around the stadium

The final stage of transport works around the stadium has also been approved, and the city council now needs to secure 5.9 mln $ to fund it. The council has applied for funding for the third phase of works, but the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has indicated that receiving funds under the National Land Transport Programme for 2024–2027 is unlikely. Nevertheless, the Christchurch City Council voted Wednesday to continue the works rather than wait for funding from NZTA or make a decision to completely cancel this stage.

© Te Kaha

To fund the third phase, it may be necessary to "change the scope or delay" some future projects to balance the impact of rates at the 0.06% level. Councillors did not decide which projects will be deferred, but Mauger repeatedly mentioned a project related to Lincoln Rd., suggesting it might be something under consideration. The council decided that the most disruptive parts of phase three will be completed first to minimize ongoing disruptions. The first two phases of work, which include water network upgrades and transport-related tasks like widening sidewalks, adding pedestrian crossings, and changing traffic flow on some streets, are already underway. The total transport work has been 53% completed, and most of the first and second phases will be finished by Christmas.