Specialised floor on way from Europe for Aorangi Park redevelopment

Monday, 9 February 2026

Work continues on the Aorangi Park redevelopment in Timaru on January 12.

Specialised sport flooring is making the long journey to Timaru from Europe as part of the $24.2 million Aorangi Park redevelopment.

The flooring will be put down during the Timaru District Council’s major redevelopment at Morgans Rd.

The project includes the strengthening of the original stadium as well as the construction of a new eight-court facility, which will be built adjacent with a link building containing a gym and function room.

With the strengthening work now complete, the foundations for the link building were near completion, a status report to be provided to Timaru’s councillors this week shows.

However, not all project details will be made public. A more detailed report has been prepared for a public-excluded part of Tuesday’s project and procurement committee meeting.

Thompson Construction and Engineering site manager Nathan Tubb, left, hands the keys back to Aorangi Stadium team leader Sarang Phalke in January after a three-month closure.

According to the January report, submitted by council consultant Paul Haggath of Teams Project Advisory, all consents for the project had been granted.

“The specialised sports flooring for the new stadium has left Europe and is being shipped to New Zealand,” the report said.

“The project remains on time and budget.”

The development was designed and is being built by Timaru-based company Thompson Construction and Engineering.

Thompson Construction and Engineering contract manager Emily Hill-Pitt and site manager Nathan Tubb check out progress in January.

The first precast panels for the new building had been cast at Thompson and were expected to be erected on site this week.

Better Off Funding of $2m had been applied for and so far just over $6m had been spent on the project.

Seismic strengthening and fire system upgrades of the original Aorangi Stadium were completed in January, with recreation staff and stadium users allowed back in the building again after three months.

Work on the full project began in July 2025 and was expected to be completed by mid-2027.

Once complete, the stadium would, according to Timaru District deputy mayor Scott Shannon, be a “cornerstone of sport and recreation in our district for generations to come”.