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The last piece of the puzzle – a world-class turf – has been laid at One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha.

The turf, made up of a “top-secret” blend of seeds, has been growing offsite on the outskirts of Christchurch since March.

Over the last few weeks, it has been harvested, transported to the stadium and expertly laid in place.

Christchurch City Council has released a new video detailing the process.

Subcontractor Terrafirma Turf has grown around 1.2 hectares of turf for the stadium.

“We’ve got three different varieties of seed. It’s a top-secret mix so we can’t share what that is, but generally it’s a ryegrass that’s hard wearing and actively growing in summer and winter,” says Terrafirma Turf Managing Director Chris Lewis.

The turf has been harvested in rolls, each around 11 metres by 1.2 meters in size and weighing around 750kg.

Around 30 rolls of turf have been transported by truck at a time. As they arrive on site, the turf is laid in place over the ventilation and irrigation systems and subgrade.

Christchurch City Council Senior Project Manager Richard Gibbs is a turf specialist who has overseen the turf development project over the last nine years.

“This is very much the green icing on the cake. It’s a real achievement to have got this far,” says Dr Gibbs.

The Council’s Parks unit will maintain the turf into the future, using the latest technology to keep it in top condition.

“There are ten misting fans that’ll be keeping the surface cool in summer and keeping the air circulating. There will also be a system that’s under the pitch that can blow air through the profile, keep oxygen levels up and then the final component is the artificial lighting rigs which provide supplementary light when required,” says Dr Gibbs.

The video also offers a look at the stadium’s seating installation, with most of the 25,000 permanent seats now in place.

The project remains on budget and on track to open in April 2026. For more information, visit tekahaproject.co.nz or sign up for the monthly newsletter.