Populous and Warren and Mahoney led the architectural design, bringing expertise in global stadium design to the project, ensuring a fan experience that rivals any other venue across the world. The world-class multi-use stadium construction was led by contractor BESIX Watpac.
As the final piece in the rebuilding of Christchurch following the earthquakes that devastated the city in 2011, One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha is a true multi-use facility designed to maximise year-round activation, from sporting fixtures to major concerts and everything in between.
Designed to flex and transform, the stadium accommodates 25,000 permanent seats, expands with 5,000 more temporary seats, and welcomes up to 37,000 people for major concerts and events. The spatial planning puts people first with a focus on spaces to meet and gather, to connect and to celebrate, to be more than a theatre but a destination point that brings people together.
To further enhance the event day experience, the architects designed the seating bowl to bring fans closer to the action for both sporting and large concert events. Spectator comfort was also prioritised through the design of a permanently fixed roof, so it can be used throughout the year, in all weather conditions.
Ordinarily, this would mean an artificial playing surface inside. However the innovative fixed roof combines a lightweight structure with transparent ETFE, precisely calibrated to provide optimal natural light to sustain the living turf below, while creating a bright, weather-protected environment that elevates every moment within.
Stadium manager Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said it was ironic to have rain and wind battering the new stadium on its opening day.
“It’s incredible having a roof – it really does give us the ability to do things all year round. A diverse range of content. So the irony of today being the ceremonial opening – it certainly showcased its benefit,” she said.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger said “Christchurch has a real sense of momentum about it, and the Te Kaha Project has played an important role in the long journey of the city’s rebuild.
Te Kaha is a shortened version of Te Kaharoa (meaning ‘enduring strength’), which is the name that Ngāi Tūāhuriri gifted to the land bounded by Madras, Hereford, Barbadoes and Tuam streets.
The stadium’s exterior features a unique steel façade, measuring 800 meters, with a design that reflects the Canterbury landscape, including the iconic Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula, the Port Hills and the Southern Alps. This design creates a visual connection between the stadium and its surroundings. No matter where visitors are viewing the building from externally, the façade will mirror the landscape behind it.
Inside, the seating bowl features a one-of-a-kind kowhaiwhai pattern inspired by the hammerhead shark (mangōpare) which represents strength, tenacity, speed and agility, designed to inspire performers and athletes using the stadium.
The guest experience is at the heart of the stadium. Warren and Mahoney Project Architect Matthew Body said the venue is designed to be inclusive, accessible, and comfortable with exemplary food and beverage offerings, industry-leading seat design and a variety of spaces to encourage social gathering and connections.
“It is far more than a stadium, it is a place where collective memory is made, where victories are shared, artists are celebrated, and the community gathers in moments of unity. In bringing people together, it reinforces the enduring connections between people and place and ensures the stadium belongs not just to the city, but to its people.”
Over the next month of the project, system checks, turf care and staff training will continue ahead of the first event, Super Rugby Pacific’s Super Round which will be held from 24 to 26 April 2026.
