News and updates

News and updates for One New Zealand Stadium

One New Zealand Stadium set to feature circuit of Ōtautahi’s finest food

One New Zealand Stadium’s concourse is set to transform into a showcase of the finest food across Ōtautahi, Christchurch with the confirmation of 16 local eateries.

Venues Ōtautahi, the operator of the stadium, opening in April 2026, confirmed the selection of a series of popular local outlets to feature across 25 retail food and beverage locations at the stadium.

Sports fans and concert goers will be able to explore the eateries in the stadium’s open concourse, which has views to the field, while taking advantage of the venue’s click and collect ordering system to ensure they don’t miss a second of the action.

The likes of Riverside Market favourites Black Burger and Little Fish Co. were among the confirmed outlets. Also included are Lyttleton-based Arbour Woodfired Pizza, popular Merivale spot Pedro’s Lamb, Sheffield Pies, Fush, Bacon Bros, Smokey T’s, Papa’s Hot Dogs and Korean Fried Chicken.

VŌ’s renowned inhouse culinary team will also run, eight bars, a co-lab premium offering, and all premium hospitality food and beverage offerings.

Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said the curation of a retail food offering at One New Zealand Stadium which celebrated local was underpinned by the company's commitment to contributing positively to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the region with the new venue providing a wonderful platform to support local businesses. With such incredible choice here in Waitaha, Canterbury, One NZ Stadium’s retail food lineup will be a destination worth visiting in its own right.

“One New Zealand Stadium provides us with an incredible opportunity to showcase our region’s amazing kai,” she said. “There are so many amazing spots to eat across Waitaha, Canterbury which has allowed us to bring together such an eclectic array of vendors. It means every time guests visit the stadium, they will be able to find their favourites or discover some new gems.”

Arbour Pizza’s Mario Grayhammer said it was an exciting opportunity to be part of the One New Zealand Stadium.

“The opening of One New Zealand Stadium is a huge milestone for the rebuild of this city and we’re proud to be a part of it. It’s an exciting opportunity for Arbour Pizza to work alongside Ōtautahi’s most inspiring local food producers to create a memorable event experience.”

The outlets were selected after Venues Ōtautahi opened an RFP (Request for Proposal) process in June.

Harvie-Teare said with guest experience at the forefront of their minds, they wanted to ensure One NZ Stadium elevated the standard of food offerings in stadiums in New Zealand.

“We wanted to deliver a diverse offering like no other stadium in New Zealand, but we don’t lose sight of those stadium staples our guests know and love. We’re confident we’ve got the perfect balance of offerings”

Smokey T’s Tristan Anderson said after travelling overseas, he was convinced their food would suit a stadium environment.

“After travelling around the south in America, attending stadiums, feeling the vibes and eating over there, it felt like our food at Smokey T’s food would be a match made in heaven for One New Zealand Stadium.”

Along with the already selected outlets, other popular dishes from Canterbury restaurants will feature in Co-Lab on Level 3. Venues Ōtautahi Executive Chef Daniel Shanks said Co-Lab was about showcasing the best of Waitaha, Canterbury dining.

"Co-Lab is an initiative designed to bring Canterbury chefs and restaurants into the stadium experience,” he said.

“It is about collaboration – giving local eateries a platform to show their signature dishes in a dynamic, high-profile setting. We’ll be rotating guest chefs and restaurant partners, so fans will always have something new and exciting to look forward to."

Across all the food and beverage outlets, Venues Ōtautahi’s “support local” philosophy has been key.

"We want the locals to feel a real sense of pride when they are in the Stadium,” Shanks said. “The result has to be a food experience that is thoughtfully crafted, supports our regional producers, efficient, fun and most importantly delicious.”

Venues Ōtautahi, which also operates the Christchurch Town Hall, Wolfbrook Arena, Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Apollo Projects Stadium and Hagley Oval, procured 80 percent of its food and beverage from local suppliers in the last financial year.

“By procuring locally, we not only bring the authentic taste of Canterbury to our guests but also contribute to the sustainability and economic growth of the community that supports us,” Harvie-Teare said.

Bacon Brothers Burgers founder Troy Bilbrough said it was special to be involved in a venue which means so much to the community.

“We’re proud to be Christchurch-born and love the idea of bringing local flavour to a national stage. One New Zealand Stadium is the heart of Canterbury’s sports and entertainment scene, and we want fans to experience what we do best — great food, great people, and a whole lot of fun,” he said

Locals can trial the food outlets at their bases across Waitaha, Canterbury ahead of One New Zealand Stadium’s opening in April 2026.

Super Round heads to New Zealand for the first time, opening One New Zealand Stadium

The city of Christchurch, the Crusaders and Super Rugby Pacific have joined forces to bring Super Round to Christchurch in 2026, marking the first time the event will be held in New Zealand and the first major sporting event at the brand new One New Zealand Stadium.

Super Round 2026 will combine world-class rugby with live music and family-friendly fun, as fans from across New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and the Pacific come together to celebrate a historic festival of footy in Christchurch.

Set for Round 11 of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, from April 24 to 26, 10 teams will descend on the city for five high-stakes matches across one blockbuster weekend.

Super Round will give fans one of the first chances to experience Ōtautahi Christchurch’s brand-new, state-of-the-art One New Zealand Stadium. With 25,000 seats under a fixed roof, and a prime location in the city centre, the stadium is the perfect venue for three days of entertaining rugby.

With fixture details to be confirmed in the coming weeks, the opening act of Super Round on Friday 24 April will feature hometown heroes and defending champions the Crusaders.

The following day the competition’s burgeoning Anzac Day rivalries reignite as the Hurricanes face the ACT Brumbies for the Captain Shout Cup, and the Blues tackle the Queensland Reds, with the players competing for the Sellars Dixon Medal.

The action concludes with another blockbuster double-header on Sunday 26 April.

Phil Mauger, Mayor of Christchurch, says the event is hugely exciting for the city.

“The opening event at One New Zealand Stadium will be a major milestone in the remarkable comeback story of our city and it is great to share that with our friends and neighbours from all across the country, Australia and the Pacific.

“We are really proud to be able to launch this amazing venue on behalf of Christchurch and know it will be a place where great memories are made.”

Colin Mansbridge, Crusaders CEO, says the franchise is proud to bring this event to their home base.

“This event is bigger than rugby, it’s a celebration of One New Zealand Stadium coming to life.

“I’m stoked the new stadium is going to host rugby, concerts and an amazing array of community events – but there’s no better way to kick it off than recognise the DNA of this region and start with Super Round hosted by Super Rugby Pacific and the very grateful Crusaders club.”

Jack Mesley, CEO of Super Rugby Pacific, says holding the event in Christchurch and playing a key role in opening the new stadium is a great way to bring back Super Round.

“Super Round is a celebration of what makes Super Rugby Pacific special. Fans can expect fast-paced rugby, classic rivalries, and an electric stadium atmosphere as supporters across the Pacific come together to celebrate Super Round.

“Hosting this event in Ōtautahi Christchurch is a fantastic way to showcase the best of our competition. We’re excited to work with the city and the Crusaders to deliver something unforgettable.”

Fixture and event details, including information on tickets, travel and hospitality packages, will be announced in due course.

Fans are encouraged to plan early for what promises to be a landmark moment for Christchurch and Super Rugby Pacific.

Expressions of Interest open for Food Vendors at One New Zealand Stadium

Wxpressions of Interest for retail food vendors, outlet operators and product offerings at One New Zealand Stadium have opened with Venues Ōtautahi further enhancing its support local ethos.

The Christchurch City Council-owned events and venues company, which will operate the stadium when it opens in April 2026, opened the Expression of Interest (EOI) process on Friday as it looks to design the delivery framework for the stadium’s over 20 food outlets.

The EOI period closes on 31 July.

Learn more here

Premium Hospitality Submissions for One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha Open

Overwhelming demand for premium hospitality at One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha has seen a selection criteria established to ensure the fair distribution of the spaces.

Venues Ōtautahi officially launched the submission period for the three previously announced premium hospitality spaces – the Suites, the Ōtautahi Lounge and the Premium Reserves – along with two further spaces – The Platform and Field Clubs – on Thursday.

The Christchurch City Council-owned events and venues company, which will manage One NZ Stadium when it opens in April next year, was expecting a high volume of submissions for the limited spaces.

The organisation released a full information pack for the premium hospitality spaces including details of each space, sample menus, pricing, terms and conditions and the selection criteria and process. The submission period is open until 13 May.

Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said they were thrilled to see so much interest in One NZ Stadium’s Premium Hospitality packages.

“You can feel the excitement building across Canterbury with less than one year to go before the opening of One NZ Stadium and the volume of expressions-of-interest we have received for premium hospitality is certainly testament to this. It’s going to be worth the wait. It’s going to be Aotearoa, New Zealand’s premier venue and the guest experience second to none.”

She said the selection process was set up to ensure the allocation of the premium hospitality spaces was fair for everyone.

“We don’t want these spaces to be decided by a bidding war. Careful consideration has been put into creating a criteria that rewards the loyal businesses who make Waitaha, Canterbury the wonderful place it is. A place deserved of this incredible venue and a place we are all so proud.”

Key criteria applications will be assessed on include economic, social, cultural and environmental contribution to Ōtautahi, Christchurch, partnerships with city-owned venues and the preferred term of contract.

The addition of the two newly announced options, The Platform and Field Clubs, bring the total Premium Hospitality capacity to more than 3200 people.

The Platform is a 68-seat private terrace at the north-west end of the stadium. The space will include its own exclusive service area along with a premium local food and beverage offering.

The Field Club is at the Hereford Street end of the Stadium just behind the goal posts. The 400 person-capacity space includes a combination of grandstands, casual seating and a feature bar right up close to the action on the field.

The previously announced spaces include 23 suites with capacities ranging from 20 to 60 people, all with their own private terrace; The Ōtautahi Lounge on level one, hosting 892 guests also enjoying a sprawling 550 square metre terrace; The Premium Reserve section comprises of 104 blocks of 8 to 14 seats all with in-seat food and beverage service and an exclusive fridge for each group.

All hospitality areas include premium seating, which at 550mm wide, will give guests additional comfort, all the while enjoying premium sight lines so none of the action is be missed. A bespoke menu has been developed to showcase the best food produced in the Canterbury region.

All pricing for premium hospitality is based on 13 guaranteed events per year including Super Rugby, NPC, NRL and A-League. Premium Hospitality holders will have preferential access for all other events.

Submissions for Premium Hospitality close on 13 May.

Premium Hospitality is the first opportunity to secure seats at the Stadium, general public membership options will be launched later in the year.

ONE NEW ZEALAND STADIUIM PREMIUM HOSPITALITY BY THE NUMBERS

Suites

23 suites
20 to 60 guest capacity
Private Terrace
Premium food and beverage
Premium seat width (550mm) and sight lines

Ōtautahi Lounge Membership

892 guest capacity
Private Terrace
Premium food and beverage
Premium seat width (550mm) and sight lines

Premium Reserves

Each premium reserves comprises of 8 to 14 seats with a dedicated fridge
104 available
In seat premium food and beverage service
Premium seat width (550mm) and sight lines

The Platform

68 seat capacity
Private Terrace
Exclusive bar
Premium food and beverage offering

Field Club

400 person capacity
Private field-side location
Feature bar
Premium food and beverage offering

Download the information pack here.

Fill out the submission form here.

Buzz builds for hospitality options at One New Zealand Stadium

The first opportunity to lock in seats at One New Zealand Stadium has been confirmed with the sale of premium hospitality being launched in April 2025.

Christchurch City Council’s venue and events company, Venues Ōtautahi, the operator of Christchurch’s state-of-the-art fully roofed Stadium set to open in 2026, have confirmed 24 April 2025 as the release date for the sale of premium hospitality at the venue.

At this time all information pertaining to the premium hospitality options as well as confirmation of the allocation process, pricing, and associated terms and conditions will be made available.

Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive, Caroline Harvie-Teare said the huge amount of interest in locking in a spot at One NZ Stadium was not surprising given the significance of the venue for the region.

“The Stadium will be an outstanding addition to the already incredible suite of venue infrastructure here in Ōtautahi and after the journey we have all been on as a community to get here, a much-anticipated asset for our region,” she said.

“The release of the premium hospitality marks another significant milestone as we look towards the opening of the Stadium next year. The Venues Ōtautahi team have put a huge amount of planning into making sure we deliver a premium hospitality experience at One NZ Stadium like no other here in New Zealand and we are excited to be able to reveal the full information on 24 April.”

One NZ Stadium premium hospitality options include 23 suites with capacities ranging from 20 to 60 people, all with their own private terrace as well as the Ōtautahi Lounge on level one, hosting 892 guests also enjoying a sprawling 550 square metre terrace. The Premium Reserve section comprises of 104 blocks of 8-14 seats all with in-seat food and beverage service and an exclusive fridge for each group.

All hospitality areas include premium seating, which at 550mm wide, will give guests additional comfort, all the while enjoying premium sight lines so not one bit of the action will be missed. A bespoke menu has been developed to showcase the best food produced in the Canterbury region.

Venues Ōtautahi General Manager, Commercial, Danny Schroder, said the demand for hospitality meant they were looking for even more options to cater for guests.

“It has been fantastic to see the already strong level of interest in premium hospitality options with particularly high demand for suites,” he said.

“On the release date, two new and exciting premium hospitality options will be announced, which will provide additional hosting opportunities at One NZ Stadium.”

Full information regarding the One NZ Stadium Premium Hospitality including the allocation process, pricing, and associated terms and conditions will be made public on 24 April 2025

ONE NEW ZEALAND STADIUIM PREMIUM HOSPITALITY BY THE NUMBERS

Suites

23 suites
20 to 60 guest capacity
Private Terrace
Premium food and beverage
Premium seat width (550mm) and sight lines

Ōtautahi Lounge Membership

892 guest capacity
Private Terrace
Premium food and beverage
Premium seat width (550mm) and sight lines

Premium Reserves

Each premium reserves comprises of 8 to 14 seats with a dedicated fridge
104 available
In seat premium food and beverage service
Premium seat width (550mm) and sight lines

Host of sports are champing at the bit to take to the field

Waitaha Canterbury’s brand new, multi-purpose venue, One New Zealand Stadium, is 17 months away from opening its gates and a host of sports are champing at the bit to take to the field.

One NZ Stadium will host more than 200 events per year from concerts, sports, to expos and private events. Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive, Caroline Harvie-Teare, said a wide variety of sports teams are enthusiastically waiting for their opportunity to play at New Zealand's premier stadium.

“For a sports-mad province like Canterbury, it is exciting to look ahead to some of the top tier sporting events we will be able to attract. In fact, the prospect of this stadium opening in 2026 has already led to a deals with the One NZ Warriors and Wellington Phoenix committed to play home games in Christchurch over the coming years, and prompted talk of potential South Island NRL and A-League football teams in the future.

The Crusaders have launched their membership offering giving fans priority access to seats at One NZ Stadium once it opens, and we look forward to bringing tier one international rugby back to Canterbury as well,” Harvie-Teare said.

In terms of rugby union, One New Zealand Stadium is the home of the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific, Matatū in Super Rugby Aupiki, Canterbury Rugby NPC and FPC teams, while also hosting our teams in black, the All Blacks and Black Ferns.

The One NZ Warriors, Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns will play rugby league matches at the Stadium, and football fans can look forward to watching the All Whites and Football Ferns play there, along with matches from the Phoenix in the A-League.

For anchor tenant, the Crusaders, the opening of One New Zealand Stadium will be something of a homecoming celebration.

“Watching One NZ Stadium take shape is exciting and emotional for the Crusaders organisation and fans. It’s like watching your dream home being built,” Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said.

“This will be an incredible venue, both from a player and spectator perspective. From the turf quality and players facilities to the hospitality options and prime views from every seat, every detail has been considered in the design. We can’t wait for the opening celebrations.”

Harvie-Teare said sports at the Stadium would not just be limited to the grass.

“While the rectangular playing field and natural turf will be ideally suited to football, rugby union and rugby league, the roofed arena will also be adaptable enough to host other sport events including tennis, boxing, motorsports and e-sports. We are talking with a wide range of sporting bodies already and the anticipation for this venue is high,” she said.

The potential for one of the fastest growing sports globally, esports, to host tournaments in One New Zealand Stadium is a huge opportunity for the region and for New Zealand, according to NZ Esports CEO, Jonathan Jansen.

“The E Blacks, our kiwi national esports team, travels all over the world competing in esports events and no matter where we are in the world, the demand for teams wanting to visit New Zealand is always significant. Having a state of the art esports-enabled facility to host international events is something a lot of countries are now planning – but we're already ahead of the curve thanks to One NZ Stadium.

“Late last year the IOC announced an Olympic Esports Commission to explore the idea of an Olympic Esports Games between the Summer and Winter Olympics. New Zealand was already perfectly paired with our picturesque landscapes and our time zone allowing for Asian and American audiences, but now we have real infrastructure that enables us to explore opportunities like this even further,” Jansen said.

Harvie-Teare said the Stadium's state-of-the-art design meant opportunities to host there were endless.

“With a covered arena that can host up to 30,000 people seated and 40,000 people in concert mode, all under the cover of a roof, the types of events we will be able to host are many and varied. The combination of capacity, flexibility and clever design means this is going to be a truly multi-purpose venue and, as venue managers, we are loving being able to think outside the box about the type of events that we will be able to attract and host here from 2026."

One New Zealand Stadium rises into Christchurch skyline

September 2024

Excitement is building as One New Zealand Stadium starts to take its place in the skyline of Christchurch City.

Work on One New Zealand Stadium remains on track for an April 2026 opening with the installation of the roof supports starting to reveal the magnitude of the Stadium.

Venues Ōtautahi CEO Caroline Harvie-Teare says it's special to watch such an important venue for the city come together.

"How incredible for our Ōtautahi community to see One New Zealand Stadium far beyond just coming out of the ground, to taking a glorious spot in the skyline above the city."

"Venues Ōtautahi cannot wait to welcome locals and visitors from near and far to One New Zealand Stadium who, from 2026, will enjoy the plethora of sporting, entertainment, and business events this wonderful venue will host."

"The countdown begins."

Christchurch City Council's timelapse footage captures the last eight months' worth of progress.

The video starts in November 2023, just ahead of work beginning on the roof support structure and culminates with the first section of roof being installed in the south stand along Tuam Street in August.

Twenty-eight of the 37m tall roof supports, known as radial trusses, have now been fabricated and welded together around the seating bowl. The video also captures progress on the seating bowl, including the installation of 1188 concrete seating plats. These L-shaped structures form the tiered shape of the stands.

With 30,000 seats (25,000 permanent and 5,000 temporary), and 36,000 capacity for large concerts, all under the cover of a roof, One New Zealand Stadium is the premier and most accessible, inclusive, sustainable and flexible venue in Aotearoa.

One NZ Stadium remains on budget and on track for an April 2026 opening.

Welcome to One New Zealand Stadium

Te Kaha unveiled as One New Zealand Stadium

July 2024

We are proud to announce One New Zealand has joined the Venues Ōtautahi whānau as our Stadium naming rights partner.

Venues Ōtautahi CEO Caroline Harvie-Teare says One New Zealand is the perfect partner for the stadium, with its extensive experience and insights which will be invaluable in driving event attraction and venue activation.

“This partnership will enable us to generate significant commercial value while staying true to our core values of diversity, inclusion and social good. Together, we look forward to seeing One New Zealand Stadium become an iconic venue not only hosting world-class events but also enriching the social, cultural, environmental and economic fabric of our community.”

The current partnership spans 10 years, from 2026-36, which One New Zealand CEO Jason Paris says is a reflection of One New Zealand’s commitment to the South Island and Canterbury.

“One New Zealand Stadium will bring the best music, live entertainment and sports, including the mighty One New Zealand Warriors, to Christchurch and we’re stoked to be the naming rights partner. Cantabrians have been waiting a long time for a world-class stadium, and this multi-use arena is certain to deliver. We're proud of our existing long-term partnerships, whether it’s our 25-year longest in NRL history with the One New Zealand Warriors, or five years of music with Live Nation, and we believe the best partnerships are when both companies share a passion for truly delivering for their customers over the long term.”

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger congratulated Venues Ōtautahi and One New Zealand on their new partnership.

“This announcement is so exciting for Christchurch, as it’s a huge step towards realising this world-class venue that our city has waited so long for. With the extensive event activation experience that One New Zealand and Venues Ōtautahi share, the future is looking very bright for the Christchurch events landscape. We cannot wait to roll out the welcome mat at One New Zealand Stadium to the local and international artists, the corporate events and the sports fixtures that it will attract.”

One New Zealand Stadium is the last of the major post-Earthquake Anchor Projects, each of which symbolises another step in a long road to recovery. The stadium is a symbol of resilience, endurance and strength and, while the venue’s name will now be One New Zealand Stadium, the whenua and precinct will continue to carry the Te Kaha name that was gifted to the city by Ngai Tūāhuriri.