Our colleagues at BESIX Watpac have successfully completed One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha for Christchurch City Council. The landmark project was delivered on time and within the agreed budget, a great achievement for everyone involved. Congratulations!
An important moment for Christchurch
The official ribbon‑cutting ceremony took place on Friday 27 March 2026. Among those attending were Mark Baker, CEO of BESIX Watpac, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger and representatives of Christchurch City Council.
Working together from day one
From the outset, the project was built on a strong partnership between BESIX Watpac and Christchurch City Council. There was a shared focus on programme certainty, cost control, quality and safety throughout the entire delivery process.
Delivering a fully covered stadium within a fixed programme and budget required careful planning, coordinated execution and close collaboration across all teams. In total, more than 2.39 million hours were worked on the project, with no lost time injuries recorded.
“This milestone reflects the strength of our team and the collaborative approach we adopted from the very beginning. By working side by side with Christchurch City Council, challenges were identified early and decisions could be taken with confidence throughout the construction phase,” said Mark Baker.
Local involvement and skills development
Creating positive outcomes for the local community was a key priority. During construction, 92% of the workforce came from New Zealand’s South Island, and 77% of the businesses involved were locally operated.
This strong local engagement supported the regional economy and helped develop skills within the South Island construction sector, with more than 90 apprentices and cadets working on the project.
A technically complex, multi‑use venue
One New Zealand Stadium is a fully covered, multi‑use venue designed for major sporting events and international concerts, while remaining flexible enough for smaller events. The stadium offers 25,000 permanent seats, with the option to add 5,000 temporary seats and a concert capacity of up to 36,000 spectators.
One of the key engineering features is the enclosed roof, built using structural steel, steel sheeting and ETFE. The roof is supported by radial trusses around 37 metres high, combined with cantilever and oculus trusses spanning 175 metres across the field of play.
A project with lasting impact
Now that construction is complete, the stadium is set to become a central part of Christchurch’s sporting and cultural life for many years to come. The successful delivery of One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha once again demonstrates the expertise of BESIX Watpac in delivering complex, large‑scale infrastructure projects in close partnership with public clients.
