Watch: June construction update

As winter settles in over Ōtautahi Christchurch, work at Te Kaha continues at pace.

In the June video update, Project Director Adrian Jones from BESIX Watpac, provides an update on what's happening on site. 

The roof of the west stand is up, ready for cladding. Concrete seating plats are beginning to be installed in the lower bowl in the east stand, and cantilever modules are starting to go up around the perimeter in preparation for the roof installation.

The video also offers a look at the assembly area on site, where the huge steel components for the roof and supporting structure are being fabricated. 

The project remains within budget and on track to open in April 2026.

Roof installation coming up

The next exciting phase of the Te Kaha construction project is fabricating and installing the roof.

Te Kaha will be a completely covered arena, with part of the roof made of a clear material called Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). The ETFE will let sunlight shine through from the north to support turf growth, while protecting visitors from the elements. 

The roof and supporting structure is made up of several key components, including radial trusses, cantilever modules and roof trusses. 

The first of 40 radial trusses was installed in December 2023. Six months on, 16 now stand around the perimeter of the arena.

During the last month, the first cantilever modules were installed. These attach to the tops of the radial trusses, and will form part of roof support system. Each module weighs up to 160 tonnes, and is fabricated on site before being lifted by crane, and welded into place. 

The next big step for the project is to install the first of the roof trusses, which stretch across the arena. This is on track to begin in the next quarter.

The render below offers a birds eye view of Te Kaha.

Faces of Te Kaha: Adrian Jones

Position: Project Director and Contractors’ Rep 

Day to day... I’m responsible for delivery of the project for BESIX Watpac. Ultimately I am responsible for everything associated with the construction of the project, whilst being the contractual point of contact between BESIX Watpac and Council. A typical day is varied, providing leadership to the project team and keeping the Council informed every step of the way.  

The best part of my job: Working with a very talented and dedicated team, and seeing what such a high performing team can deliver as well as the challenges they can overcome.

Everyone’s excited to be working on this project and it’s not often you work on a project that the community is also excited about. 

Past projects: I’ve worked on projects in Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin and now New Zealand. Of note, the redevelopment of an entire TAFE college in Brisbane, which spread across two city blocks. Also, a major hospital redevelopment project in Brisbane and an liquified natural gas plant in Darwin. 

Outside of work I... like spending time with my family, getting out and seeing the sights of New Zealand, seeing as we’ve moved here fairly recently. 

What to expect over the coming months

The next six months of the Te Kaha project will see work continue on the superstructure bowl, and the roof installation getting underway.

Because of the huge size of the project, the different stages will overlap to streamline the process. That means as one phase of work progresses across the site (working from south to north), the next phase will follow closely behind it.

Q3 2024 - Radial roof column trusses will continue to be installed around the perimeter of the arena. Roof cantilevers will continue to be installed ahead of the roof steel erection that spans across the field of play. Internal fit-out works will progress to all stands. Concrete seating plats will continue to be installed progressively to the northwest stand and low levels of all stands.

Q4 2024 - Radial roof column trusses will continue to be installed at the northern end of the arena. Roof cantilevers will continue to be installed ahead of the roof steel erection that spans across the field of play. Cladding to the outside of the arena will commence and internal fit-out works will continue in all stands. Metalwork handrails will start being installed in the seating areas.