Mott MacDonald plays a key role in successful delivery of One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha

One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch has officially opened its doors, with the first major event set to be the Super Rugby Pacific Super Round, taking place from 24–26 April 2026.

The new state-of-the-art stadium is a landmark infrastructure project and major investment in Christchurch’s future, symbolising the city’s continued regeneration following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The loss of the original stadium at Lancaster Park, an iconic community venue since 1882, was a major setback for the city and its people, particularly when it was deemed uneconomic to repair in 2016. The opening of One New Zealand Stadium completes a key element of the Christchurch Recovery Plan, providing a new, purpose‑built home for the community to come together for sport, music and major events.

Image credit: Dennis Radermacher

Image credit: Dennis Radermacher

Mott MacDonald played a key role in the delivery of One New Zealand Stadium, contributing technical design expertise as part of a highly collaborative project team working alongside Christchurch City Council, BESIX Watpac, mana whenua and the wider delivery team.

Designed with flexibility, resilience and sustainability at its core, the stadium can adapt to a wide range of events while delivering a high quality experience for athletes, performers, spectators and the wider community. It has a capacity of 30,000 for sporting events, including 25,000 permanent seats and up to 5000 temporary seats, and can accommodate up to 37,300 people for large scale concerts. A permanently fixed roof using translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) enables year round use while still supporting a natural grass playing surface.

From early planning through to delivery, the project demonstrates the value of integrated thinking, strong partnerships and a clear focus on long-term legacy.

“One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha is much more than a venue,” said Mike O’Halloran, managing director for Mott MacDonald New Zealand. “It is a catalyst for city regeneration and a place that brings people together. We are incredibly proud to have played a role in a project of such significance for Christchurch and to see it open its doors to the public.”