16 Jan 2024

Share this story

Te Kaha – Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena – has hit a new milestone, with the first of 40 radial trusses being installed.

The trusses are large steel structures that will support the roof of the 30,000 seat arena.

“The individual steel components are delivered to site and assembled into large radial trusses. Each truss weighs between 45 and 75 tonnes and will be lifted into place by a 400 tonne crane that we have brought in for the job,” says Te Kaha Project Delivery Chief Executive, David Kennedy.

The radial trusses and roof structure will continue to be built and installed over the next 12 months. 

“This is an exciting milestone in the project. Passers-by will start to see the spectacular scale of the arena as the 37m tall trusses are put in place. When finished, Te Kaha will stand 48m at its highest point, or around nine stories high,” says Mr Kennedy.

The construction of Te Kaha continues to progress on schedule and on budget.

“Lead contractors BESIX Watpac and their subcontractors have made great progress throughout 2023 and we start the new year in a good position, with the radial trusses going in and the ground floor concrete superstructure work wrapping up.”

“Alongside the radial truss work, contractors will continue to install the structural steel to the western stand, and east and south seating tiers in the new year, along with the precast concrete double tee floors on the western, southern and eastern stands,” says Mr Kennedy.

For more information on Te Kaha and to sign up for a monthly e-newsletter, visit tekahaproject.co.nz.