One New Zealand Stadium — Te Kaha

The challenge

Te Kaha is a covered, multi-use arena on a tight inner-city site at the eastern edge of the Christchurch CBD — a project of national significance and real complexity. It had to flex from a 30,000-seat stadium to a 36,000-capacity concert venue, meet the highest standards for accessibility, inclusion and sustainability, and help anchor the regeneration of the central city. A build this large, this public and this scrutinised left no room for cost or programme surprises.

Our approach

Te Kaha is delivered by the Kōtui consortium — Southbase Construction alongside international stadium specialists BESIX Watpac, with local designers. Working through an early contractor involvement model — PCSA into Design & Construct — the team brought certainty to the build from day one: aligning design to budget, de-risking a complex programme early, and pairing global arena expertise with deep local knowledge and supply chains.

The outcome

Once complete, Te Kaha will be New Zealand’s premier covered venue — its most accessible, inclusive, sustainable and flexible arena — and a catalyst for the central city: drawing visitors from across New Zealand and the world, re-establishing Christchurch as a sporting and cultural capital, and lifting the wider economy.