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One New Zealand Stadium delivered on time and on budget
A major milestone for Christchurch
The official ribbon‑cutting ceremony took place on Friday 27 March 2026. It was attended by Mark Baker, Chief Executive Officer of BESIX Watpac, alongside New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and representatives of Christchurch City Council.
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Disciplined delivery through close collaboration
From the outset, the project was driven by a strong partnership between BESIX Watpac and Christchurch City Council, with a clear focus on programme certainty, cost control, quality and safety.
Delivering a major, fully covered stadium to a fixed programme and budget required disciplined planning, coordinated execution and close collaboration across all teams involved. The project was completed with more than 2.39 million hours worked and without a single lost time injury.
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Strong local impact and skills development
Creating positive local outcomes was a shared priority for both BESIX Watpac and Christchurch City Council. Throughout construction, 92% of the workforce was sourced from New Zealand’s South Island, while 77% of engaged businesses were locally operated.
This strong local involvement supported the regional economy and contributed to skills development across the South Island construction sector, with more than 90 apprentices and cadets engaged on the project.
A technically complex, multi‑purpose venue
One New Zealand Stadium is a fully covered, multi‑use arena designed to host major sporting events and international concerts, while remaining adaptable for smaller events. The stadium provides 25,000 permanent seats, with an additional 5,000 bump‑in seats and a concert capacity of up to 36,000 spectators.
A key engineering feature is the fully enclosed roof, constructed from structural steel, steel sheeting and ETFE. The roof structure is supported by radial trusses approximately 37 metres high, along with cantilever and oculus trusses spanning a combined 175 metres across the field of play.
A legacy project for the region
With construction now complete, the stadium is set to play a central role in Christchurch’s sporting and cultural life for decades to come. The successful delivery of One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha highlights the expertise of BESIX Watpac in delivering complex, large‑scale infrastructure projects in close partnership with public clients.
