New artwork for Te Kaha stadium revealed

Tuesday, 29 October 2024

Designs inspired by hammerhead sharks and the creation story of Tāne are to adorn Christchurch’s new stadium.

One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha is under construction now and on track to open in April 2026.

A new video and images released on Tuesday show the artwork to be used on the building’s façade and seating.

It is the work of local visual artist and graphic designer Morgan Darlison (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Tainui).

Workers will start installing the exterior cladding on the stadium’s southern facade next month, and will complete the cladding on the northern side in mid-2025. Seating will be installed from April.

“The underlying narrative for the facility is around Tāne and the separation. So, this is Tane’s journey to separate his parents Ranginui and Papatūānuku,” said Darlison.

“Here in Ngāi Tahu, we have a variation of the creation story that’s significant to us.”

The facade will feature a pattern made up of 800m of steel sheeting in colours representing the Canterbury landscape.

The pattern references the city’s surrounding hills and mountains.

“If you circle the facility, the side of the façade that you’re looking at directly reflects the landscape behind it,” Darlison said.

The seating bowl will feature a unique kowhaiwhai pattern (the ornamental motif seen on marae), inspired by the hammerhead shark (mangōpare) in black and grey.

“On an international scale, this is how we present ourselves and this needs to have an impact. I went with a traditional kowhaiwhai pattern that is seen in most marae.”

Darlison said the hammerhead shark represents strength, tenacity, speed and agility, to inspire performers and athletes using the stadium.

The stadium is being built at a cost of $683m, funded by the city council and the Crown.

It will have 25,000 permanent seats, with capacity for 5000 more to be added during large events.