Our city’s athletics community making the most of their new home at Ngā Puna Wai. More than 1,000 students competed as part of the Canterbury Intermediate Schools Athletics Finals earlier this month, with a further 1,000 participants and spectators present for the 3 Primary School Athletics Sports.

The hockey turfs are now complete and hosting Hockey High Performance trainings three nights/week. Earlier this month, visitors to the 2018 New Zealand Agricultural Show were treated to a spot of sunny weather and a chance to view the site progress with extensive car parking and show access across the site.

While this wet spring weather has been good for the grass, recent adverse weather conditions have resulted in some project delays.  The specialised surfacing and throw zones grass planting on the Athletics Practice Area will now occur in mid–December with a revised handover at the end of January 2019.

The wet weather is also hampering the construction of our rugby league pitches delaying the installation of the drainage and irrigations systems on the sand–based turfs. The project team has however been able to shape and topsoil the adjacent spectator embankments as well as make significant progress on the Rugby League Covered Seating installing the bleachers and roof canopy.

The gravel tennis earthworks platform that we constructed over winter using material from the demolished Lancaster Park Tui Stand has allowed the team to make significant progress on the tennis fencing despite the wet weather.

We’ve completed the roofing of for the Hub building and have almost finished the internal fit–out.  External scaffolding has been removed and landscaping works are due to commence around the Hub Building Plaza with a range of native plants and grasses complementing the architectural look and feel of the building.

We’ll start installing the rugby league sand based turf irrigation and drainage and landscaping works for the plaza area outside the Hub. The covered seating bleachers have been installed and roof erection is complete. Fencing is almost completed around the tennis courts with 80 percent of fence posts now installed and curbing and channelling underway.

With the internal fit out now complete, we’ll commission the Southern Change Village once the gas bottle store is safely in place and the hot water system up and running. We’re also excited to welcome the wider Christchurch community to experience the fun and excitement of athletics at the Have a Go Community Day on 27 January 2019.

Make sure you Save the Date for 8 March 2019!

This is when we’re planning to hold the Official Grand Opening Ceremony of the Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub to formally acknowledge the significant support and vision of community, supporters and funders. With construction anticipated to be completed, it’s also an opportunity to formally welcome athletes, players and Christchurch residents to experience the new facility.

All sports codes will be invited to activate throughout the site at the Grand Opening in celebration of a pivotal moment in Christchurch’s sporting history. The Ceremony also coincides with the return of the New Zealand Track and Field Championships to Christchurch.

Expect to hear more about this over the coming months!

Visit the Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub webpage for more about the project.

You can also email ngapunawai@ccc.govt.nz

Ngā Puna Wai, beside the Canterbury Agricultural Park, is the site of a new sports hub for Christchurch. It will combine facilities for a number of sporting disciplines including an athletics track, hockey turfs, outdoor tennis courts and rugby league and other community sports fields and play zones.