Christchurch City Mayor Phil Mauger: Te Kaha countdown

A big highlight for me over the last month was the ‘one year to go’ milestone until One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha opens its doors to the public in April 2026.

It was great to host so many local media to mark the milestone, and the vibe was extremely positive and enthusiastic. This sense of excitement can also be felt by the local community, as well as nationally and internationally.

Located in the central city, the multi-use arena will bring a real buzz for local hospitality businesses. It’s a short walk to the stadium after a bite to eat or a drink in town.

The new stadium will host concerts, sports matches and so much more – something for everyone to enjoy. The capacity for sports matches is 30,000, but the stadium can cater for up to 37,300 for concerts. How good was the announcement that the One New Zealand Warriors will play at the stadium for the next three years.

I’m looking forward to the next milestones – the announcement of the first event at the stadium, the seats being installed, and the turf being laid. Bring it on.