Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub : Christchurch City Council

Christchurch's new sporting home for Canterbury athletics, hockey, tennis and rugby league.

Christchurch’s premier outdoor sports facility combines community playing fields and recreation opportunities with international standard sports facilities.

Ngā Puna Wai features athletics track and field, hockey pitches, rugby league fields, tennis courts, a centralised sports hub, boulevard and two grass multi-purpose community fields.

Everyone is welcome to come and use Ngā Puna Wai, take part in sports, support the players or use the sporting fields.

Stay up to date with Ngā Puna Wai news and events

Map of Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub

How to get to Ngā Puna Wai

Whether you’re walking, cycling, taking the car or catching public transport, there’s plenty of ways to get to Ngā Puna Wai.

Walking and cycling

If you’re walking or cycling, the easiest way to access Ngā Puna Wai is via Augustine Drive or via McMahan Drive if you are walking from Aidenfield.

Several walking paths and cycle ways lead to the venue from Halswell or Curletts Road and there are numerous cycle parks throughout the facility.

Driving

If you’re driving, then the best way to access Ngā Puna Wai is to follow the signs to the Ngā Puna Wai from Augustine Drive, off Halswell Road in Halswell.

There are 458 parking spaces including 11 mobility car parks available at the venue and a grass area beside the main car park for temporary parking. Check Google Maps (external link)for the best route for you.

Public transport

The Halswell Road bus stop on the Orange Line is the closest stop to Ngā Puna Wai, a 30-minute ride from the central city bus exchange. The bus stops on Halswell Road, a short 5 minute (400m) walk from the venue via Augustine Drive.

Head to the Metro website for bus timetables, maps and information(external link).

Ngā Puna Wai is Canterbury’s new home of sport. Everyone is welcome to come and use Ngā Puna Wai, take part in sports, support the players or use the sporting fields.

To make a booking:

for school or casual athletics, contact Athletics Canterbury(external link).
for school, club or casual hockey, contact Canterbury Hockey(external link).
for rugby league, email Canterbury Rugby League on info@crfl.co.nz.

For all other booking enquiries please email npwbookings@ccc.govt.nz.

Read our March 2021 newsletter(external link).

New Zealand Ultimate Championships

25 March 2021

ultimate frisbee players

Discs will be flying this weekend at Ngā Puna Wai as 24 ultimate frisbee teams from all over the country converge on the sports hub over three days for the New Zealand Ultimate Championships.

The action starts on Friday 26 March and is set to turn the southwestern home of community sport and recreation into a buzzing hub of activity with over 500 players as well as spectators and supporters expected to come together at the facility.

The competition features 11 teams in the women's division and 13 teams in the open division. These numbers reflect significant growth in the women's game.

According to Canterbury Ultimate President Richard Fernando: “Our women's game is growing, particularly locally, because we have some strong development clubs, as well as support from Christchurch City Council and Sport Canterbury for our female engagement activities.”

He says the athletes participating are very much looking forward to the weekend’s tournament, representing a sport that means so much to them.

“The New Zealand Ultimate Championships is the final event of the New Zealand Ultimate Summer Series, where teams play for three days against opposition from across the country.

“The New Zealand Ultimate Championships is the final event of the New Zealand Ultimate Summer Series, where teams play for three days against opposition from across the country. This is the biggest geographic spread we have had, with teams from Auckland all the way down to Dunedin.

"Ngā Puna Wai is an all-encompassing venue, with high-quality fields, on-site cafe, changing facilities and a grandstand. As a small sport being able to host the event at a venue of this quality is going to be very special and memorable."

The sport of ultimate itself is a unique sport unlike any other in the world, known for its focus on camaraderie and playing to the true spirit of the game.

“The game is 7v7 and is self-refereed, really meaning you have 14 referees on the field. It makes for a unique playing experience, as the game only works if you respect others on the field and communicate. When playing you get to throw and catch a disc, which as a game is interesting and entertaining when you see the curve or the distance that the disc is thrown.”

Those who head along to the tournament will be in for an exciting weekend with lots on offer for players, supporters, spectators, and families.

“All games are free for the public to come down to watch and get involved with some of the minigames including spikeball, cornhole and disc golf at our tournament village,” says Fernando.

WeAreCanterbury will be filming the showcase field all tournament, and streaming these to the SkySportNext YouTube channel.

Visit the Ultimate NZ for event information.(external link)

Follow Sport Canterbury on Facebook(external link).

Show games and finals

New Zealand Women vs New Zealand Barbarians, Friday 26 March, 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
New Zealand Men vs New Zealand Barbarians, Saturday 27 March, 6.30pm to 8pm.
Women’s Open Final, Sunday 28 March, 1pm.
Open Final, Sunday 28 March, 2:45pm.

Check out the events being held at Ngā Puna Wai below or download the latest events calendar [PDF, 181 KB].

Event	Location	Date	Find out more
Christchurch City Council Walking Festival	All areas	19 April	ccc.govt.nz/walkingfestival(external link)

Artistic impression of the completed Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub

The story behind the name

Ngā Puna Wai means ‘many spring waters’, relating to the many springs and tributaries in the area, and is part of the ancestral landscape of Ngāi Tahu. This area was once an important place for local Māori, who came together to connect and collaborate.

Today, our recreational and sporting communities have continued this ethos by coming together to share our love of sport and outdoor spaces.

Development

Ngā Puna Wai comprises 32 hectares of recreation and esplanade reserve and other park land beside Canterbury Agricultural Park, near Wigram. Council staff and other stakeholders identified it as the preferred site for to replace sporting facilities damaged in the earthquakes.

Following strong support from the wider Christchurch recreational and sporting community, what was once 32ha of grassy reserve land has been transformed into a $53.65 million multi-sports facility.

Partners

Ngā Puna Wai is a collaborative partnership between Christchurch City Council, Sport Canterbury, Athletics Canterbury, Canterbury Hockey, Rugby League Canterbury, Tennis Canterbury and the local community.