From the editor: 21 July 2022

Stadium green light

Arguably some of the best news this month was the Christchurch City Council’s vote to proceed with the construction of the multi-use stadium.

The majority of councillors voted in favour of the project with only three against it.

This is great news for Christchurch and the wider region, with the new arena certain to add to the many world-class attractions it already has.

The business community had previously indicated its overwhelming support for constructing the stadium.

The Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey conducted by the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce indicated that 90.4 percent of businesses within the region are in favour of completing the construction of the stadium. Additonally a massive 86.5 percent of businesses based outside of the Christchurch City Council boundary are supportive of their local councils making a financial contribution.

Christchurch City Council (CCC) voted 13-3 to sign a fixed-price $683 million contract to build the multi-use arena, already named Te Kaha. The price means the CCC will have to invest an extra $150m, a cost that will be recouped through a rates increase.

Christchurch has not had a world-class stadium for more than a decade. Its construction will go a long way towards rebuilding the city’s reputation as the “sporting capital of New Zealand”, and also as a top class entertainment venue.

It will cost ratepayers more, but the benefits will be reaped far into the future.