Road to opening day
1991
Wellington Rugby prepares plans to redevelop Athletic Park.
1993
WCC and sports codes begin planning multi-purpose stadium on Basin Reserve.
September 1993 Porirua supporters promote Aotea as stadium site.
1994
February 1994 Government agrees to make railyard site available and planning focus moves there. Petition to support the railyards is circulated.
June 1994 Feasibility study says 41,000 seat stadium will cost $70m.
August 1994 Sir Wilson Whineray assesses regional options and opts for railyard as best site ahead of Porirua (Aotea) and Lower Hutt (Fraser Park).
1995
July 1995 Wellington City Council agrees to $15m loan as base funding.
August 1995 Wellington Regional Council poll shows 75% support across region for ratepayer funding. Council gives conditional approval for $25m loan.
December 1995 Naming rights sold to Westpac, corporate box sales commence.
New Zealand Lottery Grants Board awards $4 million grant
1996
February 1996 Community Trust of Wellington awards $3 million grant
July 1996 First resource consent application fails in face of residents’ opposition. Planning begins on more expensive model to accommodate design change requirements.
November 1996 New plans unveiled.
1997
March 1997 New proposal gets resource consent.
August 1997 Fletcher Construction wins contract.
October 1997 Membership sales commence (2500 to sell to raise $30m capital).
1998
12 March 1998 Tapu lifted on ground – construction commences.
June 1998 The first long raker beam to support seating units was lifted into place. The following month the first concrete seating unit was placed.
November 1998 Fletchers lifted the first roof section into place, and wall cladding started in December.
October 1998 First roof segment in place.
1999
April 1999 Cricket block was laid.
April 1999 Circle of concrete seating sections was closed.
May 1999 Cricket pitch mowed for first time.
June 1999 Roof completed.
Staff recruited – trained at Te Ati Kimihia.
Work started on laying outfield.
November 1999 Stadium Trust offices opened and occupied.
17 December 1999 Stadium given Code of Compliance certificate by Wellington City Council.
Project completed and handed over to Stadium Trust after 21 months of construction, two weeks ahead of schedule. Project is within budget.
2000
3 January 2000 Official opening by Governor General.
