About
Sectors
Projects
Careers
Contact
Activity Report 2023
HomeNewsBESIX Watpac enters New Zealand to deliver a major stadium
30 March 2021

BESIX Watpac enters New Zealand to deliver a major stadium

  • The Kōtui team, in which BESIX Watpac is the lead contractor, has been selected to design and build the new Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA) for Christchurch City Council, New Zealand. This 25,000 seat covered stadium will host major sporting contests, international concerts and smaller local shows and events.

  • After leading this successful bid, BESIX Watpac is adding New Zealand to its sphere of operations.

The Kōtui team has been selected as preferred contractor to deliver the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA) in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The Canterbury Multi-Use Arena (CMUA) is a 25,000 seat covered stadium for hosting major sporting contests and international concerts, with a scalable seating capacity to ensure it remains fit for purpose for smaller concerts, shows and events.

Led by Australian-based contractor BESIX Watpac, Kōtui includes the local strength of Southbase Construction and Fulton Hogan, local seismic engineering specialists Lewis Bradford, Christchurch architects Warren and Mahoney, and global stadium design experts Populous and Mott MacDonald. The combined experience of the companies within Kōtui includes the design and construction of over 400 stadiums worldwide.

Jean-Pol Bouharmont, CEO of BESIX Watpac: “Kōtui is a remarkable team and we are proud to walk arm in arm with Christchurch City Council and the people of Canterbury to delivery this vital project. The project win is also a major milestone for BESIX Watpac and the beginning of a new era for the company as an Australian and New Zealand contractor. We now have the opportunity to demonstrate our excellence in engineering, safety and delivery”.

Drew Brockhurst, General Manager Queensland, Northern Territory and New Zealand: “We have delivered some of Australia’s iconic sporting arenas, most recently the award-winning Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, and it’s exciting to now have the opportunity to deliver our expertise in New Zealand for the benefit of the people of Christchurch and the Canterbury region”.

The Kōtui team will commence work immediately on the design and survey phases. There will be considerable activity onsite before construction starts as large drilling equipment is deployed to undertake the geotechnical investigation.

Construction of the arena is expected to commence in early 2022.

More information about the project: BESIX Watpac to deliver Canterbury Multi-Use Arena in NZ - BESIX Watpac

Check this video for more about Kōtui and the importance of the covered stadium for Christchurch and the Canterbury region.