January 24, 2025 • 11 mins
Theres now less than 500 days until the new Christchurch stadium is scheduled to be completed.
Venues Otautahi is overseeing the build of Te Kaha, and CEO Caroline Harvie-Teare joined the show to give an update on where the construction is at and the plans for when the build is complete.
Harvie-Teare told Piney that they’re designing a programme of events for the first 3-6 months after the stadium’s completion.
She says they want to get as many people in their community through that building as possible, as well as showcase the diversity of the venue, and drive visitation to the area.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Just on twelve past two. Christ Church's new six hundred
and eighty three million dollar stadium, tech Kaha or one
New Zealand Stadium as it'll be known, is well and
truly taking shape. If you drive down Barbados Street towards
Morehouse av or up Madrath Street, you simply cannot miss it.
It's looking spectacular and I'm sure excitement is building for
(00:34):
its opening. Let's bring in Chief Executive of Venues or Tultahi,
Caroline Harvey. Tia Caroline, thanks for joining us. Are you
on target for your scheduled opening date next year?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We sure are yep April twenty twenty six, certainly about
four hundred and forty days away, which is approximately.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Spoken like somebody with a calendar on your wall that
you're ticking off the dates on. So it's been on
schedule the whole time. There have been no fishhooks on
the on the journey so far. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Look, it's treading really really well. Obviously there's always things
that come along that the contractors had to shift things around,
but they've just been amazing so the big risky stuff
happening at the minute, which is building that roof. As
you've seen coming out of the ground. That's the biggest
risk in the program. And that's all tracking really really well.
(01:30):
So no, bring on Eightril twenty twenty six. We're really
comfortable that that date certainly on trap.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Have you decided what the first event there will be yet?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Oh, it's always the question, isn't it. Look what we're
doing actually is we're designing kind of a program of
events for that first for the three to six months.
And the reason why we're doing that is we kind
of want to do four main things. One is get
as many people in our community through that building. We've
waited a long time for this, and so that's probably
(02:02):
one of the most important things. We want to showcase
its diversity, so it's more you functionality. We want to
get as many global eyeballs on that, so we want
a lot of broadcast eyeballs on it. So that's Crusaders,
that's the phoenix. That's one New dn't worried is all
that guaranteed content that's already beer. And then we want
to drive visitation, so that's getting those major entertainment X
in there. So we've got a number of conversations happening
(02:24):
at the minute around what those big entertainment x could be.
We're not locking them in just yet. We've certainly got
a couple of very active conversations underway.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I bet you have. Are you planning any sort of
open day for Cantabrians or those from further afield to
wander through and have a lot not they can't just
wander anywhere, But have you got an open day of
any sort planned?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, that's definitely part of the plan. So we want
to get our community through to have a good look around.
That gives us a really good opportunity to test all
of the retail outlets and all of those things as well.
So you no, definitely more than one open day, that's
for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Have you started talking to news Land Rugby about all
Blacks test matches next year?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yep, that's those conversations have started absolutely. So. Look, we
haven't seen a schedule of matches, but what we really
want to do is we've not seen a lot of
all about rugby here in christ Shoots over the last
few years. I think we've had two and twelve years,
which is just not enough. So we can't wait for
to have the right actually here in christ shoot, so
(03:32):
we can see our wonderful all blacks here. So yep,
definitely some of those conversations very very active, and I
know that they can't wait to get under that road either.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Absolutely right. You'll go into a competitive bidding process, won't you?
With other New Zealand venues on sporting events and cultural events.
How confident are you that you'll be a really strong bidder,
if not the strongest bidder.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, Look, we're really confident. We're really lucky. We've got
we're going to have the most premium stadium in this country,
and it's not only going to be innovative in design,
but it's going to be really really uniquely local and
that's an awesome combination. But what we've also got is
city infrastructure to support high dictation. So we've got a
(04:19):
great international airport, we've got plenty of accommodation, and so
we're really well positioned to maximize this opportunity for our
city and about time.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Indeed, look I'm looking again, spoken like someone with four
hundred and forty days to tick off on her calendar.
Another part of it is it right in the city, Caroline.
I mean you simply cannot miss it as you as
I say, driving down Barbados or up Madras. It's just
rising right there in front of everybody. How how big
a feature is it that it is so.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Central, Oh, a huge feature. Obviously Lancaster part was really
well positioned, but it was a bit of a treat
walking from the central city out to Lancaster Park. But
this is right in the heart of the city, four
hundred meters from the bus interchange, will be less than
a cave from the terrace. So if you just imagine
(05:10):
that activity around the city, the ability just to walk
to the stadium, you get the lights, you get that
feeling of excitement as you walk towards the stadium, like
it just is perfectly positioned, and it will also activate
that part of the city as well. You know, that's
the eastern part of christ Huts that really needs it.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
We're obviously a sports show, but I did want to
ask you about concerts because clearly they're part of what
DECA will be all about as well. Can you tell
us what you envisage the concert experience to be like
at the new venue?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, well, look, I mean, obviously having a road to
game changer. So look, it's going to be cold in
there when it's cold outside, and it'll be warm in
there when it's warm outside, but you're not going to
get rained on. It's not going to be windy, and
that not only for the guest experience is going to
change the game, but also for an artist performing and
for a promoter bring an artist here. You know, if
(06:05):
you think about you know, these Dalton John concerts for
example in Auckland, it was such a nightmare for that
city to miss out on that because of the weather.
So we're just not going to have those issues. So
the guest experience will be far enhanced. And the cool
thing about one New Zealand Stadium is we'll do large
concerts that around that, so that at thirty six maybe
(06:25):
pushing on forty thousand. But then there's also a smaller
concert mode which creates an arena style concert at the
southern end of the stadium, so will be the largest
indoor arena in New Zealand at fourteen fifteen thousand.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Incredible. And back to sport, how are your conversations with
the Crusaders. I get the feeling Colin Mansbridge will be
a guy you speak to fairly regularly because obviously they'll
have a new home at Takaha Oh.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I know they are so excited and we're so excited
to see them run out for the first time there.
They've waited a long time to have a home that
they didn't know to be the most successful super rugby
club two mile, they've had a temporary stadium and albeit
it's done with an absolute service over the years, it's
about time they had a venue fitting of their wonderful
(07:17):
kind of performance. So yeah, Collins pumped, the team's pumped.
We just can't wait to get in there. And we're
doing some different things around our partnership as well, which
is really exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And as you mentioned, a temporary stadium has been has
been used in the meantime. There's a Phoenix game there
this afternoon at Apollo Projects Stadium out at Addington. What's
the future for that venue?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Look, it will be turning thirteen this year. We will
have a little thirteenth birthday celebration and it's as I said,
it's done as a service, but look that the intention
is that the stadium will no longer be being used.
It'll likely be decommissioned and the council will decide what
to do with the land. It's a great piece of
(07:59):
land obviously in a really good location. I'm sure it's
a value to our city. But yeah, I think we
will soon Whilst will cherish the memories of it, I
think we'll soon put it in the back of our
minds and enjoyed a new one.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Right, Okay, Carolina, Just to finish between now and the
opening in April of next year, what are the major landmarks.
What are the things that you know that I guess
you're looking forward to seeing ticked off ahead of the
grand opening in around fourteen months fifteen months time.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Yeah, Look, I think construction wise, getting that roof finished
is a major milestone that's coming up in the next
few months, and then obviously all that intern will fit
out and getting the turf started. But for us, we'll
go on sale for corporate hospitality in April, and that's
quite a bit milestone for us because obviously naming rights
was a big deal. We've done our page arrangements are
(08:50):
taketing and content and all those things, but getting corporate
hospitality on sale means that that's the first time people
in our community and outside of it can actually get
a piece of the pie, and we've got a really
high demand. I think we've got about three hundred on
a waiting list at the minute. That's just a sweet
So we've only got twenty three of those, so it's
a good problem to have. But yeah, so getting that
(09:13):
on sale and then obviously announcing those first events major
entertainment events, will be a big milestone as well. Yeah,
so lots to look forward to. But that four hundred
and forty days is going to go quite quickly, so
we've got treuy to do.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
And will there be stadium memberships available? Can a person
buy a stadium membership? Will that be available?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Yeah, definitely. So obviously the Crusaders will have their membership,
and we'll have an integrated membership with the Crusaders, so
you'll be able to buy a membership that will have
guaranteed content for the likes of the Crusaders, can Ity Rugby,
one of Young Warriors, the Phoenix. All those partnerships have
got lockdown and then obviously the first option to purchase
(09:53):
for concerts and those things that aren't lockdown every year.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Excellent, Thanks so much for the update, Caroline. It's an
exciting time. I'm sure the days will at times go fast,
but at times will drag as we head towards April
next year. But can't wait to see it open. Thank
you for providing us with an update this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
No no worries, thank you, Thank.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
You, Caroline. Caroline Harvey Tear, their chief executive of venues
or told Tahi anybody who comes to christ Here's these
days as a visitor and then comes back to wherever
they were from talks about Hey, I can see it,
I can see it. And for Cantabrians, you must just
be amped about this because it has been a very
long time. What did Caroline say, thirteen years? It is
(10:35):
you just work forwards, don't you? From twenty eleven as
to the lack of a decent sized venue in the
Garden City, great to know that, after all this time
and it has taken a while, that it is going
to be available for use from April of next year.
I just can't wait to see the All Blacks play there,
(10:56):
the Crusaders obviously, Phoenix, the Warriors and everything else that
gets scheduled in there. And that's just the sport, the
cultural events, concerts and such like. The fine folk of Canterbury.
Of it to wait far too long for this, so
good to know that it is only another four hundred
odd days to wait and you'll have your bright, shiny
(11:16):
new stadium in downtown christ Church.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Just on twelve past two. Christ Church's new six hundred
and eighty three million dollar stadium, tech Kaha or one
New Zealand Stadium as it'll be known, is well and
truly taking shape. If you drive down Barbados Street towards
Morehouse av or up Madrath Street, you simply cannot miss it.
It's looking spectacular and I'm sure excitement is building for
(00:34):
its opening. Let's bring in Chief Executive of Venues or Tultahi,
Caroline Harvey. Tia Caroline, thanks for joining us. Are you
on target for your scheduled opening date next year?
Speaker 3 (00:46):
We sure are yep April twenty twenty six, certainly about
four hundred and forty days away, which is approximately.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Spoken like somebody with a calendar on your wall that
you're ticking off the dates on. So it's been on
schedule the whole time. There have been no fishhooks on
the on the journey so far. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Look, it's treading really really well. Obviously there's always things
that come along that the contractors had to shift things around,
but they've just been amazing so the big risky stuff
happening at the minute, which is building that roof. As
you've seen coming out of the ground. That's the biggest
risk in the program. And that's all tracking really really well.
(01:30):
So no, bring on Eightril twenty twenty six. We're really
comfortable that that date certainly on trap.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Have you decided what the first event there will be yet?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Oh, it's always the question, isn't it. Look what we're
doing actually is we're designing kind of a program of
events for that first for the three to six months.
And the reason why we're doing that is we kind
of want to do four main things. One is get
as many people in our community through that building. We've
waited a long time for this, and so that's probably
(02:02):
one of the most important things. We want to showcase
its diversity, so it's more you functionality. We want to
get as many global eyeballs on that, so we want
a lot of broadcast eyeballs on it. So that's Crusaders,
that's the phoenix. That's one New dn't worried is all
that guaranteed content that's already beer. And then we want
to drive visitation, so that's getting those major entertainment X
in there. So we've got a number of conversations happening
(02:24):
at the minute around what those big entertainment x could be.
We're not locking them in just yet. We've certainly got
a couple of very active conversations underway.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
I bet you have. Are you planning any sort of
open day for Cantabrians or those from further afield to
wander through and have a lot not they can't just
wander anywhere, But have you got an open day of
any sort planned?
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah, that's definitely part of the plan. So we want
to get our community through to have a good look around.
That gives us a really good opportunity to test all
of the retail outlets and all of those things as well.
So you no, definitely more than one open day, that's
for sure.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Have you started talking to news Land Rugby about all
Blacks test matches next year?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Yep, that's those conversations have started absolutely. So. Look, we
haven't seen a schedule of matches, but what we really
want to do is we've not seen a lot of
all about rugby here in christ Shoots over the last
few years. I think we've had two and twelve years,
which is just not enough. So we can't wait for
to have the right actually here in christ shoot, so
(03:32):
we can see our wonderful all blacks here. So yep,
definitely some of those conversations very very active, and I
know that they can't wait to get under that road either.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Absolutely right. You'll go into a competitive bidding process, won't you?
With other New Zealand venues on sporting events and cultural events.
How confident are you that you'll be a really strong bidder,
if not the strongest bidder.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, Look, we're really confident. We're really lucky. We've got
we're going to have the most premium stadium in this country,
and it's not only going to be innovative in design,
but it's going to be really really uniquely local and
that's an awesome combination. But what we've also got is
city infrastructure to support high dictation. So we've got a
(04:19):
great international airport, we've got plenty of accommodation, and so
we're really well positioned to maximize this opportunity for our
city and about time.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Indeed, look I'm looking again, spoken like someone with four
hundred and forty days to tick off on her calendar.
Another part of it is it right in the city, Caroline.
I mean you simply cannot miss it as you as
I say, driving down Barbados or up Madras. It's just
rising right there in front of everybody. How how big
a feature is it that it is so.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Central, Oh, a huge feature. Obviously Lancaster part was really
well positioned, but it was a bit of a treat
walking from the central city out to Lancaster Park. But
this is right in the heart of the city, four
hundred meters from the bus interchange, will be less than
a cave from the terrace. So if you just imagine
(05:10):
that activity around the city, the ability just to walk
to the stadium, you get the lights, you get that
feeling of excitement as you walk towards the stadium, like
it just is perfectly positioned, and it will also activate
that part of the city as well. You know, that's
the eastern part of christ Huts that really needs it.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
We're obviously a sports show, but I did want to
ask you about concerts because clearly they're part of what
DECA will be all about as well. Can you tell
us what you envisage the concert experience to be like
at the new venue?
Speaker 3 (05:44):
Yeah, well, look, I mean, obviously having a road to
game changer. So look, it's going to be cold in
there when it's cold outside, and it'll be warm in
there when it's warm outside, but you're not going to
get rained on. It's not going to be windy, and
that not only for the guest experience is going to
change the game, but also for an artist performing and
for a promoter bring an artist here. You know, if
(06:05):
you think about you know, these Dalton John concerts for
example in Auckland, it was such a nightmare for that
city to miss out on that because of the weather.
So we're just not going to have those issues. So
the guest experience will be far enhanced. And the cool
thing about one New Zealand Stadium is we'll do large
concerts that around that, so that at thirty six maybe
(06:25):
pushing on forty thousand. But then there's also a smaller
concert mode which creates an arena style concert at the
southern end of the stadium, so will be the largest
indoor arena in New Zealand at fourteen fifteen thousand.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Incredible. And back to sport, how are your conversations with
the Crusaders. I get the feeling Colin Mansbridge will be
a guy you speak to fairly regularly because obviously they'll
have a new home at Takaha Oh.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
I know they are so excited and we're so excited
to see them run out for the first time there.
They've waited a long time to have a home that
they didn't know to be the most successful super rugby
club two mile, they've had a temporary stadium and albeit
it's done with an absolute service over the years, it's
about time they had a venue fitting of their wonderful
(07:17):
kind of performance. So yeah, Collins pumped, the team's pumped.
We just can't wait to get in there. And we're
doing some different things around our partnership as well, which
is really exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
And as you mentioned, a temporary stadium has been has
been used in the meantime. There's a Phoenix game there
this afternoon at Apollo Projects Stadium out at Addington. What's
the future for that venue?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
Look, it will be turning thirteen this year. We will
have a little thirteenth birthday celebration and it's as I said,
it's done as a service, but look that the intention
is that the stadium will no longer be being used.
It'll likely be decommissioned and the council will decide what
to do with the land. It's a great piece of
(07:59):
land obviously in a really good location. I'm sure it's
a value to our city. But yeah, I think we
will soon Whilst will cherish the memories of it, I
think we'll soon put it in the back of our
minds and enjoyed a new one.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Right, Okay, Carolina, Just to finish between now and the
opening in April of next year, what are the major landmarks.
What are the things that you know that I guess
you're looking forward to seeing ticked off ahead of the
grand opening in around fourteen months fifteen months time.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Yeah, Look, I think construction wise, getting that roof finished
is a major milestone that's coming up in the next
few months, and then obviously all that intern will fit
out and getting the turf started. But for us, we'll
go on sale for corporate hospitality in April, and that's
quite a bit milestone for us because obviously naming rights
was a big deal. We've done our page arrangements are
(08:50):
taketing and content and all those things, but getting corporate
hospitality on sale means that that's the first time people
in our community and outside of it can actually get
a piece of the pie, and we've got a really
high demand. I think we've got about three hundred on
a waiting list at the minute. That's just a sweet
So we've only got twenty three of those, so it's
a good problem to have. But yeah, so getting that
(09:13):
on sale and then obviously announcing those first events major
entertainment events, will be a big milestone as well. Yeah,
so lots to look forward to. But that four hundred
and forty days is going to go quite quickly, so
we've got treuy to do.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
And will there be stadium memberships available? Can a person
buy a stadium membership? Will that be available?
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Yeah, definitely. So obviously the Crusaders will have their membership,
and we'll have an integrated membership with the Crusaders, so
you'll be able to buy a membership that will have
guaranteed content for the likes of the Crusaders, can Ity Rugby,
one of Young Warriors, the Phoenix. All those partnerships have
got lockdown and then obviously the first option to purchase
(09:53):
for concerts and those things that aren't lockdown every year.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Excellent, Thanks so much for the update, Caroline. It's an
exciting time. I'm sure the days will at times go fast,
but at times will drag as we head towards April
next year. But can't wait to see it open. Thank
you for providing us with an update this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
No no worries, thank you, Thank.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
You, Caroline. Caroline Harvey Tear, their chief executive of venues
or told Tahi anybody who comes to christ Here's these
days as a visitor and then comes back to wherever
they were from talks about Hey, I can see it,
I can see it. And for Cantabrians, you must just
be amped about this because it has been a very
long time. What did Caroline say, thirteen years? It is
(10:35):
you just work forwards, don't you? From twenty eleven as
to the lack of a decent sized venue in the
Garden City, great to know that, after all this time
and it has taken a while, that it is going
to be available for use from April of next year.
I just can't wait to see the All Blacks play there,
(10:56):
the Crusaders obviously, Phoenix, the Warriors and everything else that
gets scheduled in there. And that's just the sport, the
cultural events, concerts and such like. The fine folk of Canterbury.
Of it to wait far too long for this, so
good to know that it is only another four hundred
odd days to wait and you'll have your bright, shiny
(11:16):
new stadium in downtown christ Church.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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