The company tasked with delivering Te Kaha – Canterbury’s multi-use arena, has advised Christchurch City Council that further funding will be required to complete the project.
The Council has asked for feedback on three options; to invest up to an additional $150 million, stop the project altogether or pause and re-evaluate the project.
Te Kaha is a vital piece of infrastructure for our Canterbury members, with many property owners and developers investing heavily in the rebuild off the back of promises that Te Kaha, amongst other anchor projects, would be built.
We want to support this project moving full steam ahead and are calling on our members to ‘Back the Build’ by completing this form on the Christchurch City Council website by 5 July 2022.
To assist, we have created some helpful submission points that you are welcome to use as a basis for your submission.
If you have any questions and or feedback on this issue, please contact Sandamali Gunawardena.
Suggested submission statements
- I/We strongly support continued and further investment in Te Kaha multi use arena to enable the project to continue as planned.
- A completed Te Kaha multi use arena is critical in ensuring that Christchurch’s future has the much-needed infrastructure for a world-class city, enhancing liveability and attracting tourism and ongoing economic activity. The use of the arena will not only help significantly boost Christchurch’s economy but also draw domestic and international visitors to help the city prosper.
- We appreciate that current political and economic circumstances because of COVID-19, has caused the costs to increase. However, in the long term, building now will be more cost effective and beneficial. Pausing or cancelling will only see further costs/delays arise. I/We are concerned that pausing or cancelling the project would risk losing the Crown’s $220 million funding and future investment from the private sector. It is important to invest now for the benefits the arena will bring in the long term.
- The private sector has invested millions of dollars into the rejuvenation of the city following the 2011 earthquakes. It is important that the Council contribute towards Christchurch’s future and create certainty for the private sector to continue to invest, by forging ahead with the multi-use arena project and see it through to completion. Creating certainty around the multi-use arena project could also help secure future investment in hotels, restaurants and retail stores within near proximity, creating a vibrant hub.
- We strongly support the Council to invest more money into the Te Kaha multi use arena and continue to build as planned. The arena will allow Christchurch to attract events and therefore visitors, generating significant income to help the city thrive as well as add to the much-needed infrastructure landscape.