Fewer than 5% expected to take bus to events at Te Kaha stadium

Thursday, 3 July 2025

Modelling suggests fewer than 5% of people will travel to big events at Te Kaha by bus - falling to 1% for Super Rugby matches.

Just 1% to 2% of people will take the bus to rugby matches at Christchurch’s new stadium, transport modelling suggests - with the vast majority likely to travel by car.

Mayor Phil Mauger said he did not care how people travelled to Te Kaha, as long as there was economic benefit to the city.

But one transport planner thinks people’s views will change once the reality of driving and parking to get to the 36,000 capacity stadium kicks in.

One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha is about 400m from the bus interchange.

Work continues on the new One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, due to open in central Christchurch in April. But most people are not expected to use a bus to visit.

But modelling from 2022 by council-owned events operator Venues Ōtautahi predicted buses would be among the least favoured transport options for people travelling to the stadium for rugby matches and concerts.

Just 1% are expected to take public buses for Super Rugby matches, compared with 60% travelling by car, 20% by rideshare, and 10% walking, the remainder split between taxis and private shuttles, biking, scootering and private bus.

For All Blacks games bus patronage is expected to be 2% - with 54% driving - rising to 4% for concerts and 10% for e-sports. Just 1% of festival-goers are forecast to take the bus to Te Kaha, and zero for corporate events.

Glen Koorey, from transport experts ViaStrada, said the modelling was a shame, but that people may have a change of heart once the stadium opens in April.

“Over time if they see how things are playing out with trying to drive, park, and get out again they may think it’s more trouble than it’s worth.”

Transport expert Glen Koorey hopes people will change their tune and come around to taking the bus to Te Kaha events. (File photo)

Koorey anticipated congestion and parking would be a challenge due the stadium’s location, and hoped more bike stands, better pedestrian access and buses with integrated ticketing would ease reliance on cars.

Taranaki Regional Council put on free buses when the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls defended the Ranfurly Shield at Stadium Taranaki in June, the service fully booked by punters getting a free ride with their game ticket.

The 440 free seats cost the council $6730, a spokesperson said, meaning if the 25,500-seat stadium was only half full it would have cost each ticket holder about $1.90 extra to cover the bus costs.

Cars, trucks and buses used on Christchurch roads are responsible for about 39% of total emissions and 71% of transport emissions. The council declared a climate emergency in 2019, before setting an emissions reduction target of halving the emissions by 2030 and being carbon zero by 2045. But slow progress led the council to concede last year it was unlikely to meet those targets.

An image demonstrating how much road space 69 people occupy on a bus, on 69 bikes, or in 60 cars. It was taken on the streets of Canberra.

Councillor Sara Templeton said the transport modelling seemed conservative for bus use, but if the city wanted more people using buses the services needed to be good.

“When you get a new facility in a new place, that’s the time for a mode shift.

“If other modes of transport are easier people will use them.”

Templeton suggested the introduction of integrated ticketing and late-night buses could give people another option.

M Grace-Stent, chairperson of the city’s urbanist group Greater Ōtautahi, said the modelling showed more work was needed to boost attraction to bus use.

“The surrounding [hospitality] area will always receive a lot of benefits from additional public transport usage - people going to bars and restaurants, that would be lost if people are just driving in their cars.”

Environment Canterbury chairperson Craig Pauling says the regional council is talking through transport options for Te Kaha with local authorities. (File photo)

Grace-Stent said public transport would not work for everyone, such as those living far away or people with disabilities, but if locals used buses it would make it easier for everyone to get around during events.

Environment Canterbury (ECan) chairperson Craig Pauling said the council and Venues Ōtautahi were considering integrated ticketing - in which public transport costs are included in the price of the ticket for an event - which would help the bus interchange “come into its own”.

Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare says integrated ticketing for travel and events at Te Kaha makes sense.

Fares for Wilson Parking, the closest paid car parks, start from $3 for 30 minutes.

Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said integrated ticketing made sense due to limited parking near the stadium. The idea has the broad support of Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton and Waimakariri mayor Dan Gordon.

ECan has set aside $500,000 to be spent on transport costs associated with the stadium over the next two years.

Venues Ōtautahi has in the past run pop-up park and ride bus services around the city, usually from malls to Addington Raceway when a number of large events were happening at the same time.

Dedicated event coaches for Te Kaha will be able to drop people off on Tuam St, Harvie-Teare said.

A plan to educate and engage the public on transport options will be released in September, she said.

Additional reporting by Sinead Gill