Christchurch’s temporary stadium faces an uncertain future, with repeated council delays leaving the site’s next chapter unclear amid a growing list of proposed uses.

Apollo Projects Stadium will host its final major event on April 18, when Wellington Phoenix takes on Western Sydney Wanderers, before the council reclaims the site on April 20.

The Crusaders played their last game at the stadium - a 14-year home - against the Fijian Drua last Friday.
Meanwhile, One NZ Stadium is nearing completion and will open for Super Rugby’s Super Round over Anzac weekend.

Newstalk ZB can reveal that the council’s options report for Apollo Projects is still being drafted.

Originally due in November, the report was repeatedly delayed - first to the New Year, then March, and again on April 1 - before officials confirmed the decision would be further postponed.

Nigel Cox, Head of Recreation, Sports and Events, said the completed report will be considered by the Finance and Performance Committee soon. In the meantime, no large-scale events are planned beyond April 18.

“However, the council may choose to use the venue for community sport if the site is safe, noting the temporary grandstands and buildings will be decommissioned,” Cox said.

A timeline will follow once a public tender is completed.

Local Councillor Melanie Coker warned there is a real risk the site could sit idle while decisions are made and the new stadium is in operation.

“In my view, the land should be available for community use as a neighbourhood park during this period,” she said.

Coker has consulted widely online, receiving a broad spectrum of ideas: returning the land to Canterbury Rugby League, creating a neighbourhood park or food forest, adding sports facilities, carparks, or even developing housing or shopping complexes.

She confirmed the public will be consulted, though no definitive timeline has been set.

“I imagine consultation will not start until after One NZ Stadium opens,” she said.

Canterbury Rugby League publicly called to be involved in council consultation last year, given the site’s previous use as Rugby League Park.

CEO Malcolm Humm said the organisation had been talking with council over the past six weeks and are happy with how things have landed, and their operations at Nga Puna Wai.

He said tensions have been alleviated and the future of the site isn’t CRL’s business.

Harewood Councillor Aaron Keown, who was on the council when the stadium was built, said the site has served the city well but should now deliver the best economic return.

“It’s no longer needed as a sports ground. Some would like it to remain that way, but it’s too valuable,” he said.

Keown supports retaining a small piece of the turf as a nod to its sporting history, even if the rest of the site is redeveloped.

Peter Hornby, Arvida South Island Development Team Manager, representing the neighbouring retirement village, said: “If the Council were to consider a sale and run a formal process, we’d be interested in understanding that in more detail and potentially being involved.”

Both councillors acknowledge the difficulty of balancing public feedback with budget and development pressures.
Coker noted the opinions are “extremely mixed” and stressed a clear mandate from Christchurch residents would be needed to retain the land for community purposes.

Jaime Cunningham is a Christchurch-based reporter with a focus on education, social issues and general news. She joined Newstalk ZB in 2023 after working as a sports reporter at the Christchurch Star.