Christchurch’s events industry is booming, delivering a record $107 million economic boost to the region, with the new One New Zealand Stadium helping drive the growth.

Christchurch City Council owned Venues Ōtautahi has reported an estimated $106.99 million in direct and indirect economic benefits for the 2025/26 financial year, compared with $41.8 million the previous year.

The result includes just 10 weeks of the new stadium’s operation, with its first full financial year still to come.

Across its venues, the organisation hosted 474 events, attracting 933,962 attendees, up from 408 events and 718,443 attendees the previous year.

Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said the stadium had fundamentally changed the organisation.

“One NZ Stadium provided the most significant test of our guest experience capability in the company’s history. Within weeks of opening, the venue transitioned into high-volume operation across major sport, entertainment, premium hospitality, corporate and community modes.”

The stadium welcomed 249,191 people across 35 events during its opening 10 weeks.

Christchurch Town Hall remained the busiest venue by event numbers, hosting 290 events, while Wolfbrook Arena attracted the largest individual venue attendance, with 301,488 guests.

Apollo Projects Stadium welcomed 117,460 people during its final year, with Hagley Oval and the Air Force Museum also contributing to the overall figures.

The organisation recorded earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $4.16 million, beating its budget by $5.06 million.

It also confirmed it would no longer require operational funding from Christchurch City Council for its venues.

Local suppliers shared in the success, with 83 percent of food served sourced from Canterbury and 73 percent of contractors based in the region, generating $13.71 million in direct economic activity.

Harvie-Teare said the benefits reached well beyond the venues themselves.

“It permeates throughout our region activating hotels, restaurants, bars, transport providers, retailers, food producers, suppliers, contractors, boosting the wider visitor economy.”

The organisation’s workforce grew to 849 during the financial year and has since reached 933, including 819 casual employees.

Of those casual workers, 58 percent are aged between 15 and 24.

Venues Ōtautahi also provided $201,000 in community discounts across 57 events.

May was its busiest month, with 58 events attracting 181,610 people.

Looking ahead, Harvie-Teare said there was considerable potential for further growth.

“This is just the beginning.”