New stadium set to revitalise Ōtautahi’s economy

Source: Unplash.

It’s no secret that Christchurch is navigating its way through an economic minefield in a post-COVID climate, but the Garden City is now playing the stadium sized ace it had up its sleeve. 

With construction beginning in June 2022, Te Kaha Stadium has been designed to hold 30,000 people for sporting events and 36,000 for musical events.  

With that, it has the expectation to reinvigorate the sport and culture scenes in Ōtautahi, but provide a boost to the local economy via tourists. 

Chief Executive of Venues Ōtautahi Caroline Harvie-Teare said that Te Kaha is forecasted to host “over 200 events per year, including multiple sporting events, major entertainment events and concerts and around 180 business events per year.” 

“We believe these events will attract approximately 100,000 visitors to our city whose total spend on things such as accommodation, hospitality, and activities while they are here will bring $28 million into the local economy each year,” she said.   

Outside of tourism, the economic impacts such as employment, procurement of food and drink and engagement of local contractors and suppliers that Te Kaha’s presence would bring, would provide a welcome boost to those living in Christchurch, Harvie-Teare said.  

“Te Kaha will be responsible for around $50 million of direct contribution to the region's local economy annually.  

“Te Kaha will also underpin additional investment and economic growth to the region, promote the region as an attractive place to work, study, live and visit and accelerate levels of investment in the Central City.” 

Another key driving factor behind the development of Te Kaha, is to provide the people of Ōtautahi with a sense of pride and excitement, especially in a post-2011 earthquake environment.  

Harvie-Teare said that “Te Kaha Stadium is the last of the 16 Anchor Projects created to regenerate the city centre of Christchurch following the catastrophic sequence of major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011”. 

“Each of the Anchor Projects symbolises a step in the recovery of the city and Te Kaha is the last, and the most important of all - it is the last.” 

Such emotional and personal connection means that Te Kaha is more than just a stadium. It is a symbol that marks all the struggle that Christchurch as a region has gone through and more importantly, how it has overcome it.” 

Harvie-Teare said the development is a game changer.  

It will be a patient wait for Ōtautahi however, as construction of Te Kaha is estimated to finish in 2026.  

Canta reached out to both Little High and Smokey T’s for comment on what the economic impact of the new stadium would be, however received no response.