In a finance and performance committee meeting, Te Kaha stadium project directors Mark Noonan and Kent Summerfield presented updates on the stadium.
Summerfield shared that “we are well ahead of contractual markers”. Contract completion was set to be completed by 20th April, but practical completion was finished about six weeks earlier. Summerfield says that the contractors were “proactive throughout the project” and their approaches were the prime reason for the early completion.
He said there are currently 100-150 staff on site. “That [number] will continue to reduce in terms of physical work and increase in operational presence”.
In the performance update, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger gave credit to the two men. “Don’t under sell yourselves, because if it wasn’t for what you were doing and what you have done, we wouldn’t be in the good position”.
This Friday, the stadium’s ceremonial opening will take place. Summerfield describes this as “a significant marker”. The Mayor will attend and is looking forward to the opening.
Venues Ōtautahi also spoke about the stadium after delivering their half year financial report ending 31 December 2025.
Their chair Gill Cox, chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare, and chief financial officer Jamie Mountier were at the meeting.
From April 20, Venues Ōtautahi will have official management of One New Zealand stadium. But this responsibility doesn't come cheap. They have already paid about 1.4 million in pre-operating costs.
Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said staff numbers are expected to increase from 500 – nearly 1,000 to manage the One New Zealand Stadium.
Harvie-Teare understands the role that Venues Ōtautahi must play.
“We don't underestimate the privilege that we have, but we know that we have to deliver for our city”. Further stating that, “this venue is symbolic of the real closing of a piece of a puzzle which is recovery”.
Venues Ōtautahi will be testing the ‘operational readiness’ with two test events before the first super rugby event on April 24.
The first test event will be a screening of the Warriors game on April 5 with 8,059 people attending. The screening event aims to test sound, ticketing system and the facilities themselves. The second test event will put the turf to the test with a Crusaders training on April 16.
