Community
The future of Invercargill’s Rugby Park stadium and grounds is safe for now.
Invercargill City Councillors agreed at the Community and Regulatory Committee meeting on Tuesday 17th, to include a proposal to invest in refurbishing the facility in the upcoming Long-term Plan 2027-2037.
All remedial work including earthquake strengthening had been put on hold at Rugby Park over the past year, as a working party started to explore some of the future options.
But the committee voted to recommend that the proposed Rugby Park renewal programme be incorporated into Council’s LTP, with the community able to provide its feedback through a formal consultation process next year.
Rex Capil, group manager - community spaces and places said, without Rugby Park, Invercargill would be the only city of its size in the country without an outdoor stadium capable of hosting national fixtures such as the National Provincial Championship (NPC).
Commenting on the Southland Regional Outdoor Stadium Needs Analysis and Assessment Report, he said the opportunity cost of walking away would be significant for the wider community. Read the full report here
“The ripple effects would be felt across the hospitality and accommodation industries, and would have a potential negative impact on not only the city’s ability to attract major events, but our collective regional pride and identity as well.”
The report had highlighted the need for a renewed focus on ensuring the facility transitioned to a more active, multi-purpose venue.
“The recommendation to include the potential refurbishment of Rugby Park is an opportunity for our community to tell us if it envisages a future for the facility, and wants to see it used as a venue for events and regional occasions of significance beyond game day.”
Committee chair Councillor Darren Ludlow said it was crucial the community had an opportunity to be part of the decision-making process.
“Rugby is a very significant part of our community, but it is that community that needs to have all of the options, and the implications of these, in front of them in order to make an informed choice for the future of Rugby Park,” he said.
“Including the future of Rugby Park in the Long-term Plan process is an important opportunity for the people of Invercargill and Bluff to tell us whether they see the project as a priority for our community,” he said.
“It’s important that the decisions made around the Council table have our community, and its future, firmly in mind. The LTP process will also give us a deeper understanding of what impact this proposal will have on rates, and is the public’s chance to tell us if that investment is something they want to see their dollars go towards,” he said.
The report also noted that demolishing and rebuilding the facility was unlikely to be a viable option for the community, and the sale of land currently housing Rugby Park was unlikely to generate a significant revenue boost for Council and the community, Ludlow said.
It also acknowledged the regional importance of Rugby Park, and recommended Council begin discussions with neighbouring local bodies and external stakeholders, regarding shared funding models.
The consultation document for the LTP would be presented to Council in late 2026, before a public consultation period opened in March 2027. The final LTP would then be adopted by Council in June.