Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou and a Happy New Year for 2019. We hope you all had a fantastic holiday break and have returned refreshed and ready for the new year.

We've got plenty of good news to share on Ngā Puna Wai with two major sporting events booked in for February and March ahead of the venue's official grand opening on 08 March 2019. We're looking forward to seeing you all down there to enjoy free entry to the first day of the New Zealand Track & Field Championships, check out the amazing facilities and enjoy this amazing community space.

Canterbury Rugby League will also be hosting an opening event on the brand new Community Fields next month.

I'd like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks for the courageous and tireless support from the Christchurch’s recreational and sporting community in creating this facility.

Without the courage, vision and belief of our city’s elected members, the incredibly generous support of partners and funders and the relentless support our wider community, we couldn't have succeeded in creating this wonderful community space for future sporting generations to thrive.

- David Bailey, CCC Manager Recreation and Sports Services

Ngā Puna Wai means ‘many spring waters’, relating to the many springs and tributaries in the area, and is part of the ancestral landscape of Ngāi Tahu. This area was once an important place for local Māori, who came together to connect and collaborate.

Today, our recreational and sporting communities have continued this ethos by coming together to share our love of sport and outdoor spaces.

Our builders and contractors have done a fantastic job putting the finishing touches on some key projects over Christmas and the warm summer weather has helped keep targets on track.

Ka pai everybody!

• The Hub Building is nearly complete and will be ready at the end of this month.
• Asphalt is being laid today on the landscaping of the Plaza area.
• The grass has been sown for the Athletics Practice Zone over the weekend and the final artificial surfaces will be laid by the end of January.
• Change Village 2 just needs the final finishing touches and will also be ready at the end of this month.
• The roof is up on the Rugby League Covered Seating.
• Drainage has been completed for the sand carpet Rugby League fields with grass to be sown later this month.

Our very own Tom Walsh and a host of NZ and international heavyweights were hosted at Ngā Puna Wai's athletics facilities for the 2019 Athletics New Zealand High Performance Throws Camp, bringing together an outstanding group of athletes in a very special environment. Welcome, everyone!

Christchurch fans will be treated to an international hockey showdown as the Vantage Black Sticks take on the world for the FIH Pro League on the 8th, 15th and 17th February. Read the full story here:

Get your tickets to the FIH Pro League here and don't miss out on this opportunity to watch some of the world’s best hockey teams in action at Ngā Puna Wai!

Canterbury Rugby League's early anticipated opening event at Ngā Puna Wai will take place over the 22nd and 23rd of February on the Community Fields. Come and see the Rockcote Canterbury Bulls’ clash with the Warriors’ InTrust Super Premiership side on Saturday 23 February, more information here. The Rugby League sand carpet fields will be available for the start of the regular season in April as planned.