Te Kaha multi-use arena begins vertical construction phase

Community Press
April 03, 2023
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The concrete structure of Te Kaha – Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena (Photo: Christchurch City Council)

Te Kaha, Canterbury's highly anticipated Multi-Use Arena project, has reached a significant milestone as the first of its concrete columns emerged vertically from the ground. Here are the details:

• The first four five-meter-tall columns were filled with concrete, left to cure for three days, and then had the formwork boxing removed.

• Te Kaha Project Delivery Chief Executive, David Kennedy, stated that the work in the southwest corner of the site is a signal that the next phase of the 30,000-seat arena's construction has begun.

• As part of the vertical construction phase, work on pouring and boxing the ground floor walls has begun, in addition to regular casting of concrete columns.

The concrete structure of Te Kaha – Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena – is now emerging vertically from ground, with the first of the concrete columns breaking cover today.

Read more about this update here, https://t.co/lru5DoMftj pic.twitter.com/b4xR5Lc23y
— Christchurch City Council (@ChristchurchCC) April 3, 2023

• Over the past eight months, the Te Kaha project has achieved a significant amount of work to improve the land and undertake 17 major concrete pours for the arena's foundations.

• About 75% of the southern stand and half of the western stand substructures have been completed as the substructure work continues across the site.

• The substructure work is scheduled to be completed in the next couple of months as programmed, in line with the project's budget and timeline.

• An all-weather surface of AP65 and AP40 gravel and stones has been added to high-traffic areas of the site to minimise mud during the winter months and manage dust during drier periods.

• A signalised pedestrian crossing on Tuam St will soon be operational, enabling hundreds of sub-contractors and contractors to safely access the site from the BESIX Watpac offices.

The Te Kaha Multi-Use Arena is a crucial project for Canterbury and New Zealand, providing a 30,000-seat arena that will offer opportunities for sporting and cultural events. The emergence of the concrete columns represents a visible step forward in this highly anticipated development.