Trust Tairāwhiti has approved just over $1.17 million in funding to Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union (PBRFU) towards the completion of the Rugby Park grandstand rebuild.
The rebuild will deliver a modern, accessible facility that supports local sport, major events and the wider community, including potential future use as a Civil Defence site.
While considerable progress has been made, unforeseen challenges during the early stages of construction led to delays. The new grandstand building was designed to be earthquake-proof, but the ground beneath it didn’t meet the new seismic building standards (NBS) and was prone to liquefaction. This meant the project required further remediation, affecting timelines and increasing project costs.
Despite this, strong momentum has continued, with local contractors engaged on-site and essential elements of the build well underway.
“As a union, there have been many obstacles to overcome, including ground remediation and two major weather events. With the support of Trust Tairāwhiti, we are confident we have mitigated the financial risk involved in completing the project to a standard our community will be proud of,” says PBRFU chief executive Ray Noble.
Completing the grandstand will mark a major milestone for Rugby Park. The current structure was quickly built in 1965 after a fire destroyed the original grandstand. While it has served the community for decades, the need for a modern, fit-for-purpose replacement has been clear for some time.
The upgraded facility will expand capacity, meet New Zealand Rugby specifications and enhance the PBRFUs ability to host everything from club rugby to national and international events, including the possibility of securing a Māori All Blacks match in 2026.
The project is primarily backed by $11.3 million in funding from Kānoa, the regional economic development arm of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
PBRFU operates with dedicated kaimahi that help grow rugby across the region. This investment supports their ongoing mahi while also contributing to the long-term goal of providing high-quality, multi-use spaces.
The Trust’s support for the grandstand builds on an earlier funding commitment for installing security fencing at the park. It aligns with the priorities identified in the Tairāwhiti Sports Facilities Business Case, which addresses long-standing gaps in access, safety, and quality of the region’s sports facilities. It aims to deliver lasting wellbeing outcomes across the region.