Ōtautahi is the Māori name for the New Zealand city known to most Australians as Christchurch – and Venues Ōtautahi is excited over the tremendous boost to business events promised by the region’s new Te Kaha stadium.
Te Kaha pad banquet
Venues Ōtautahi’s General Manager, Commercial, Danny Schroder, said at MEETINGS 2024 in Rotorua that while world-class concerts and significant sports tournaments generated much of the hype around Waitaha Canterbury’s new Te Kaha Stadium, business events would be the venue’s linchpin in terms of booking numbers.
According to Venues Ōtautahi projections, business events will constitute 180 of the 200 annual events Te Kaha Stadium is expected to host when it opens in mid-2026. That’s 90% of the total.
Schroder said economic and social opportunities from business events at Te Kaha have been front-of-mind in the design and operational planning.
Venues Otautahi General Manager, Commercial, Danny Schroder.
He said Te Kaha Stadium would have spaces for various business events, from full-scale conventions and exhibitions to conferences, galas, corporate hosting, and smaller meetings.
“We can host over 10,000 attendees on the field of play, up to 900 in our level one function lounge, or gatherings of 10 to 60 people in any of our 23 meeting rooms on level two.
“We will also be equipped with state-of-the-art technology, premium catering options and an accessible, central location that will appeal to corporate event organisers. We are already fielding strong interest from this sector for future bookings, which is encouraging for the entire region given the high value of such events.
“Te Kaha, with its thoughtful design ensuring flexibility, accessibility and sustainability, is set to become New Zealand’s premier venue for local and international events of all shapes and sizes. We cannot wait to roll out the welcome mat.”
Venues Ōtautahi owns the Christchurch Town Hall and Wolfbrook Arena and manages Apollo Projects Stadium, Hagley Oval, the Air Force Museum of NZ, and Te Kaha Stadium.
Edited by Peter Needham in Rotorua, New Zealand
