We’ve upgraded the streets and water network around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha.

Stadium speeds consultation now closed

People were able to provide feedback from 26 May to 9 July. You will be able to read their feedback and the staff recommendation once an agenda is available for the Council decision meeting, which we expect to be in August.

Major upgrades around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha started in July 2024 and finished in July 2025.

Lichfield Street, west of the stadium, has been transformed into a civic space connecting the stadium to the bus exchange, central city accommodation and hospitality spots.

Barbadoes Street, Tuam Street and Madras Street have also been upgraded with new footpaths, landscaping, pedestrian crossings, and new street and traffic lights. The water infrastructure has also been upgraded to support the growing south-east central neighbourhood.

The final layer of asphalt on the footpaths around the stadium will be completed later in the year, in conjunction with the landscaping works within the stadium grounds.

The project cost $34 million, with $11.4 million of this earmarked for the necessary water supply, wastewater and stormwater pipes that are at the end of their life. 

This entire package of work was approved as part of the Council’s Long Term and Annual Plans and is separate from the $683 million budget approved for the construction of the stadium. 

Get the latest on the Te Kaha Surrounding Streets project

A range of new speed limits around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha were due to come into effect in the next few months.

However, the Government’s new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, which came into force after the project was approved by the Council, does not allow changes approved under the previous rule to go ahead.

The Council reconsulted the community on new proposed speed limits which comply with the updated Rule.

People were able to provide feedback from 26 May to 9 July. Public feedback and the staff recommendation will be available to read once an agenda for the Council decision meeting is published, which we expect to be in August.

Learn more at letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/tekahaspeeds(external link)

Major water network and road upgrades took place from June 2024 to July 2025.

'Barbadoes Street and Tuam Street intersection.

Barbadoes Street

'Intersection on Barbadoes Street.

Barbadoes Street and Hereford Street intersection

'Lichfield Street has been transformed.

Lichfield Street

'New pedestrian crossing on Madras Street.

Madras Street, outside Ara

'New cycle stands, seats and benches have been installed.

Street furniture

'Six intersections have been upgraded around the stadium.

Madras Street and Lichfield Street intersection

18 July 2025 update.

350,000 cobblestones, 5,176 plants, and 5.5km of new pipes later – major street and water network upgrades around the new stadium are finished.

The Te Kaha Surrounding Streets(external link) package of work has wrapped up about four months ahead of schedule.

We want to thank all the local businesses, residents and commuters for their understanding and patience during construction. Read more on Newsline(external link).

Thank you for your patience throughout the project. Major road works are now finished, and traffic management has been reduced around the site.

The final layer of asphalt will be added to the footpaths on Barbadoes, Tuam and Madras Streets immediately surrounding the stadium in the coming months.

Traffic management will be required during this work, to keep crews safe. We will update this webpage when the work is scheduled.

You can find the latest traffic management information(external link) on the Isaac Construction webpage.

 

27 June 2025 

Upgrades to the streets and water network around the stadium are almost finished. 

Over the last few weeks, we've been making repairs to the brick barrel pipe on Madras Street. The section between Cashel Street and Hereford Street has been completed, and the final layer of asphalt will be laid this weekend.

The works will require an overnight road closure, from 9pm on Sunday 29 June until 6am on Monday 30 June. There will be no entry onto Madras Street from Tuam Street, Lichfield and Cashel Street during the road closure. The Hereford Street intersection will also be closed, with traffic diverted around Latimer Square.

Read the full update in our latest newsletter(external link).

26 May 2025

Changes to speed limits on streets around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha are again out for feedback from residents.  

A range of new speed limits around the city’s stadium were due to come into effect in the next few months. 

However, the Government’s new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024, which came into force after the project was approved by the Council, does not allow changes approved under the previous rule to go ahead. 

Learn more about the proposed changes, view the cost-benefit disclosure statements, and find out how the calculations are made at letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/tekahaspeeds(external link). Consultation closes on Wednesday 9 July.

7 May 2025

With the rainy weather last week, the final road resurfacing on Madras Street was postponed. Madras Street, between Tuam and Cashel Streets, will be resurfaced this week. The work will take place overnight, from 9pm to 6am, starting Wednesday 7 May. Work is expected to finish by 6am on Friday 9 May. Read the detour notice(external link).

A section of Madras Street, between Cashel Street and Hereford Street, will be resurfaced in the coming months. During the course of the project, some issues with the brick barrel pipe that runs the length of Madras Street were discovered. 

We plan to make repairs now to avoid further issues in the future. A lane closure will be in place while this work is done, and the final road resealing will follow.

We apologise for any inconvenience. Read the full update in our latest newsletter(external link).

28 April 2025

Barbadoes Street and Tuam Street have received their final layer of asphalt and new line markings over the last month. 

Madras Street, between Tuam Street and Hereford Street, will be resealed next week - marking the end of the majors upgrades around the stadium.

People can expect to see a reduction in traffic management measures around the site from late May, once all the final asphalt and intersection cobblestones are in.

Minor works like footpath paving, planting and traffic light commissioning will continue into the spring. Read the full progress update in our latest newsletter(external link).

26 March 2025

Intensive works continue on the streets around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, as crews push to wrap up the bulk of the high-impact works.

Cobblestones are being installed in the intersections around the stadium, and preparations are underway for the final layer of asphalt to be laid on Barbadoes Street, Tuam Street and Madras Street.

This stage will start in early April and is expected to wrap up in May. Read the full progress update in our latest newsletter(external link).

26 February 2025

The Te Kaha Surrounding Streets project is entering the final intensive phase.

Several road and intersection closures, as well as night and weekend works, will take place over the next few months. Major works will start to wrap up in May 2025, around six months ahead of schedule. 

Several permanent road layout changes will also soon come into effect. Around the start of March, Lichfield Street east of the stadium will be converted to two-way, allowing traffic to flow both ways between Fitzgerald Avenue and Barbadoes Street. 

One block south, Tuam Street will be converted to one way shortly after, making all of Tuam Street eastbound within the central city.  Read more on Newsline(external link).

13 December 2024

Our contractors are pulling out all the stops to hit some key milestones ahead of the holiday period. Work will pause from Friday 20 December, with most traffic management (road cones, signs and barriers) removed from the site. Read the full project update(external link).

6 November 2024

The final portion of transport works around the city’s new stadium has received the go-ahead. Read more on Newsline(external link).

1 November 2024

Christchurch City Councillors are set to decide how to proceed with the final stage of roading upgrades around One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha.

The Council applied for funding for a third stage of planned works and has since received advice from NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi that the funding is unlikely to be granted through the National Land Transport Programme for the 2024-27 period.

Councillors will consider a report recommending that stage three proceed as planned at their meeting on Wednesday 6 November. 

The report also outlines options to delay the stage three works until after the stadium opens or cancel them altogether. Read more on Newsline(external link).

14 October 2024

A 57-hour marathon of work will see water upgrades at the intersection of Manchester Street and Lichfield Street largely completed in one weekend.

The intersection will be closed from 9pm on Friday 18 October until 6am on Monday 21 October to excavate and replace ageing water pipes. Read more on Newsline(external link).

21 August 2024

Christchurch City Councillors today voted to carry out upgrades to the transport network on the streets immediately around Te Kaha, Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena on Tuam, Barbadoes and Madras Streets, as well as some essential works on Lichfield Street west from Madras Street to Manchester Street.  

Works are already underway to upgrade the water infrastructure to future-proof the network for the surrounding neighbourhood. These works also serve the new stadium, which is on track to open in April 2026.  

The transport elements will take place directly following the water works. Read more on Newsline(external link).

16 August 2024

The future of street upgrades around Te Kaha (One New Zealand Stadium) will be decided next week. 

On Wednesday 21 August, Christchurch City Councillors will meet to consider a report recommending stage two – upgrading the streets around the stadium, and Lichfield Street West – starts immediately. 

The report also outlines options to either delay the transport works until after NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has released its decision around funding a portion of the transport works or proceed with the water elements only. Read more on Newsline(external link).

26 July 2024

Work to upgrade the water network around Te Kaha (One New Zealand Stadium) is about to begin.

From Monday 29 July, detours and lane closures will be in place around Barbadoes Street, Madras Street and connecting side streets between Gloucester Street and Ferry Road. In August, work will ramp up, and there will be traffic management for the duration of the works into 2025.

The work will help pave the way for Te Kaha while future-proofing the water infrastructure in the area for residents and businesses. Read the latest newsletter for more details(external link).

11 July 2024

Work on essential water upgrades around Te Kaha, Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena, get underway this month. 

Our contractors, Isaac Construction, have been engaged to upgrade the pipes and water infrastructure around the stadium. The team will be on site from next week until early 2025, completing the water works.

From Monday 15 July Isaac's team will be on site scoping the works ahead. Construction begins in early August. 

Temporary traffic management measures will be in place throughout the works. To learn more about the project and its impacts, view the work notice(external link).

24 June 2024

Work on essential water upgrades around Te Kaha, Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena, will get underway in late July.  

Contractors Isaac Construction have been appointed to carry out the works, which include upgrading the water supply and wastewater infrastructure around the arena on Lichfield, Madras and Barbadoes streets. Read more on Newsline(external link).

Consultation 2022 (closed)

Consultation on the Te Kaha Surrounding Streets package of works was held from 10 October 2022 to 30 November 2022.

We received feedback from 1,214 individuals, businesses and organisations during the consultation period. Hearings took place in April 2023.

The Council's Finance and Performance Committee approved the plan(external link)(external link) on 28 June 2023. 

The approved plan included a revised, hybrid option for Lichfield Street(external link) between Manchester and Madras Streets. The refined option will see it retain its current dual-direction state, but with a 10km speed limit to ensure it remains safe for pedestrians.

The upgrade to Lichfield Street West will cost $4.5 million; this is $1.2 million more than the original option, which would have transformed the street into a one-way, pedestrian-safe road.