The new stadium will open on April 20, 2026.
Harvie-Teare described the new NZ$683 million venue at Te Kaha variously as “the premier stadium of Aotearoa…an incredible venue for our city… an incredible venue for New Zealand”.
It may also be competitive with venues across the Tasman.
“We were lucky after being very unlucky, that we had the chance to design something from scratch,” said Harvie-Teare, referencing the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 that destroyed much of the city, killing 185 people and taking out three of the four major venues in Christchurch.
Prior to taking her latest role as chief executive of Venues Ōtautahi, part of Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury born and bred local had relevant experience as a senior executive at Christchurch Airport and the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
Underpinning the design of the new stadium, Harvie-Teare says, was the need for flexibility.
The new venue, officially to be known as One New Zealand Stadium, will host a range of sports from Rugby Union and Rugby League to A-League soccer and others still being negotiated. Cricket will not be among them.
One New Zealand Stadium will accommodate 30,000 for sports events using its 25,000 permanent seats and 5,000 temporary seats, while for concerts the fully enclosed venue maximum is 36,000 including seats on the pitch. There’s also a more intimate arena mode designed for 15,000 attendees.
And while it will be a venue designed to handle the capacity crowds that the All Blacks can draw to a rugby game, Harvie-Teare says it is definitely a business events venue, able to compete with the largest plenary spaces, aided by the latest technology including two 150m2 high-resolution screens plus 300 smaller monitors around the stadium.
There’s the Ōtautahi Function Lounge and Terrace suitable for a conference, gala dinner or cocktail function for almost 900; 23 corporate suites for 10 to 60 attendees; the Lancaster at one end of the stadium offers 2,750m2 for 2,500 delegates standing, 1,360 in banquet configuration or for 134 three-by-three exhibition booths.
The field of play will also be available for business events.
“We won’t host cricket so the grass will remain in place and we have already purchased chair protection for an on-field banquet…I believe we could cater for about 8,000 since on any normal day we’ll deliver more than 3,000 corporate meals,” said Harvie-Teare.
She did not specify how frequently business events would be allowed on-field, but the appearance of the playing surface was a prime consideration given the venue is basically a large broadcast platform for a range of live-to-air national and international sports and entertainment events.
As an off-site venue for conferences being held at Te Pae Christchurch, the stadium is well located, just 15 minutes walk from the convention centre.
While construction began in 2022, it is understood progress on the stadium is well ahead of schedule, although the CEO would only say, “we’re travelling really well”.
Venues Ōtautahi will take possession of the venue in December to allow a 90-day staff training period and staging a range of test events, including some community days prior to April.
“We’re on a bit of a roll, but it has been a tough 14 years,” said Harvie-Teare.
“Now we’re reaping the rewards,” she says, adding that emotions will be running high. “You don’t easily forget an earthquake.”
A few might shed a tear of relief when the stadium finally opens and the All Blacks, many of whom are famous sons of Canterbury, perform their first roof-raising haka.
