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Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
All Blacks Great Joins Battle To Keep Western Springs Stadium In Public Hands
Tuifa'asisina Sir Bryan Williams is calling on Aucklanders to keep Western Springs stadium in public hands. Auckland Council and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) have launched a public consultation on the future of Western Springs Stadium. Tuifa'asisina, former All Black and Ponsonby Rugby Club stalwart, is backing a community-led proposal to transform the stadium into a multi-use venue, as he fears a commercial redevelopment would erase a vital community space. 'This is not just about rugby - it's about preserving public access to one of Auckland's most iconic community spaces,' Tuifa'asisina says. 'We're not looking to build walls or gates. We're building access - access to top-class facilities at community rates.' The council consultation document outlines three options for the site's future: redeveloping it into a new Auckland Arena, transforming it into the Western Springs Bowl, or keeping the current setup with flexibility for alternative ideas. Tuifa'asisina supports the Bowl option, which is backed by Ponsonby Rugby Club and music promoters CRS Records and Eccles Entertainment. It proposes: -A 5000-8000 seat stadium for school finals, club sport, and community tournaments -A permanent stage for concerts and cultural events -Shared clubrooms and changing rooms for local sports and fitness groups -Affordable spaces for holiday programmes, fundraisers, and community events 'Let's be honest, private management means restricted access, high hireage fees, and limited availability. "That's not the Auckland we want to live in,' he says. Mike Lee, Waitematā and Gulf Ward councillor, says the public consultation process is already flawed, and claims Auckland Council sidelined community voices early on. 'It's all very well and good that the Council is asking the public, but they should have asked the public before they evicted Speedway from Western Springs Stadium,' he says. Auckland Council voted last year to evict the speedway and relocate the club south to Waikaraka Speedway. Lee says this has removed "the most popular" candidate from the choices. Rich lister Anna Mowbray and her husband, former All Black Ali Williams, are backing a privately funded venue focused on football. [ It would replace the natural amphitheatre with a new 12,500-seat stadium, including new facilities for Auckland FC, community sports, and commercial amenities such as restaurants and gyms. Mowbray, co-founder of ZURU and one of the private investors, told RNZ's Morning Report they want to create a world-class facility that serves both professional sports and the wider community. However, Tuifa'asisina has concerns the commercial option could limit access to large-scale community events 'We've seen festivals like Laneway and Pasifika fill the park with joy. Will they happen in a private, locked facility?' Tuifa'asisina asks. Lee says he is opposed to the privatisation of a public, open space. 'I firmly believe that soccer, rugby, concerts and speedway can all fit into Western Springs Stadium with a bit of intelligent planning and with goodwill.' He says he strongly support the retention of Ponsonby Rugby at Western Springs. "Essentially, it's the only place available that's suitable.' Council officials say the public now has a chance to help shape the venue's long-term use. Max Hardy, Auckland Council's Director of Group Strategy, says Western Springs has a rich and layered history – from the time when eels were fished in the springs, to its use as a water reservoir, and later a stadium for speedway, sport, and iconic concerts. TAU's chief executive Nick Hill says the site has untapped potential. 'Western Springs Stadium is a special place with huge potential to evolve and meet the needs of our vibrant city and region." Renowned architect Pete Bossley, who is supporting the Bowl proposal, says the natural contours of the stadium are irreplaceable. 'The amphitheatre is iconic and historic. To destroy that would be criminal.' Ponsonby Rugby Club chair Greg Edmonds warns that once the stadium is privatised, the public is unlikely to get it back in this lifetime. 'We're offering a balanced, public-private model that meets council goals and gives the public real value. We're not in this to line our pockets – we're doing this because community engagement is the fabric of a strong city. And this is our shot to keep that fabric intact.' 'It's a common-sense solution. And it's one that keeps this beautiful ground open to the people who love it,' Tuifa'asisina says. Public feedback is open until 15 June 2025 on the Auckland Council 'Have Your Say' website. No final decisions will be made until the consultation period ends and all submissions have been reviewed.
1News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- 1News
All Blacks great weighs in on Western Springs stadium battle
Tuifa'asisina Sir Bryan Williams is calling on Aucklanders to keep Western Springs stadium in public hands. Auckland Council and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited have launched a public consultation on the future of Western Springs Stadium. Tuifa'asisina, former All Black and Ponsonby Rugby Club stalwart, is backing a community-led proposal to transform the stadium into a multi-use venue, as he fears a commercial redevelopment would erase a vital community space. "This is not just about rugby — it's about preserving public access to one of Auckland's most iconic community spaces," Tuifa'asisina said. "We're not looking to build walls or gates. We're building access — access to top-class facilities at community rates." The council consultation document outlines three options for the site's future: redeveloping it into a new Auckland Arena, transforming it into the Western Springs Bowl, or keeping the current setup with flexibility for alternative ideas. Tuifa'asisina supports the Bowl option, which is backed by Ponsonby Rugby Club and music promoters CRS Records and Eccles Entertainment. It proposes: A 5000-8000 seat stadium for school finals, club sport, and community tournaments A permanent stage for concerts and cultural events Shared clubrooms and changing rooms for local sports and fitness groups Affordable spaces for holiday programmes, fundraisers, and community events. 'Let's be honest, private management means restricted access, high hireage fees, and limited availability. "That's not the Auckland we want to live in," he said. Mike Lee, Waitematā and Gulf Ward councillor, said the public consultation process was already flawed, and claimed Auckland Council side-lined community voices early on. "It's all very well and good that the council is asking the public, but they should have asked the public before they evicted speedway from Western Springs Stadium," he said. Auckland Council voted last year to evict the speedway and relocate the club south to Waikaraka Speedway. Lee said this has removed "the most popular" candidate from the choices. Rich lister Anna Mowbray and her husband, former All Black Ali Williams, are backing a privately funded venue focused on football. It would replace the natural amphitheatre with a new 12,500-seat stadium, including new facilities for Auckland FC, community sports, and commercial amenities such as restaurants and gyms. Mowbray, co-founder of ZURU and one of the private investors, told RNZ they want to create a world-class facility that served both professional sports and the wider community. However, Tuifa'asisina was concerned the commercial option could limit access to large-scale community events "We've seen festivals like Laneway and Pasifika fill the park with joy. Will they happen in a private, locked facility?" Tuifa'asisina asked. Lee said he was opposed to the privatisation of a public, open space. "I firmly believe that soccer, rugby, concerts and speedway can all fit into Western Springs Stadium with a bit of intelligent planning and with goodwill." He said he strongly support the retention of Ponsonby Rugby at Western Springs. "Essentially, it's the only place available that's suitable." Council officials said the public now had a chance to help shape the venue's long-term use. Max Hardy, Auckland Council's director of group strategy, said Western Springs had a rich and layered history – from the time when eels were fished in the springs, to its use as a water reservoir, and later a stadium for speedway, sport, and iconic concerts. Tātaki Auckland chief executive Nick Hill said the site had untapped potential. 'Western Springs Stadium is a special place with huge potential to evolve and meet the needs of our vibrant city and region." Renowned architect Pete Bossley, who was supporting the Bowl proposal, said the natural contours of the stadium were irreplaceable. "The amphitheatre is iconic and historic. To destroy that would be criminal." Ponsonby Rugby Club chair Greg Edmonds warned that once the stadium was privatised, the public was unlikely to get it back in this lifetime. "We're offering a balanced, public-private model that meets council goals and gives the public real value. We're not in this to line our pockets — we're doing this because community engagement is the fabric of a strong city. And this is our shot to keep that fabric intact." "It's a common-sense solution. And it's one that keeps this beautiful ground open to the people who love it," Tuifa'asisina said. Public feedback was open until June 15, 2025 on the Auckland Council "Have Your Say" website. No final decisions would be made until the consultation period ended and all submissions reviewed. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Auckland's Western Springs Stadium's future up for public consultation
There are three proposals open for public consultation on the future of Western Springs Stadium. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi After more than 100 years at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium, the Ponsonby Rugby Club faces losing its home if the space becomes the new base for the city's football team - Auckland FC. Public submissions on the stadium's future open on Monday. One is a privately funded venue focused on football. It is backed by rich lister Anna Mowbray and her husband, former All Black Ali Williams. It is the preferred option of the council's economic and cultural agency, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, with plans to turn it into a new 12,500 to 15,000-seat stadium that would be home for Auckland FC, as well as a concert venue. But the Ponsonby Rugby Club wants the stadium to remain in community hands. A third option is for Auckland Council to do nothing or explore other ideas. Tātaki Auckland and the city's Mayor, Wayne Brown, declined an interview with Morning Report this morning. Former All Black Sir Bryan Williams has spent much of his life at Ponsonby Rugby Club. He said it was important to preserve public access to one of Auckland's most iconic community spaces. "It's a natural amphitheatre Western Springs and as far as I'm concerned and others, many others, it needs to be preserved." The venue had been home to speedway and concerts, he said. "I remember you know watching the Rolling Stones at Western Springs and an exhibition fight with Mohammed Ali, I saw Peter Snell create a world record, I think it might of been for 2000 metres back in the day." Sir Bryan said they were proposing to have a community facility at Western Springs that would provide club rooms for Ponsonby but also be available for use by the community. They had also worked in with concert promoters CRS Records and Eccles Entertainment, he said. "They would build a permanent stage at Western Springs and it'd still be open obviously to holding large concerts." Sir Bryan said having both a community facility and the ability to hold large concerts at Western Springs would meet Auckland Council's objectives. Their proposal would definitely require some public funding, he said. Sir Bryan said the key reason for opposing the alternative proposal was that it would mean that Ponsonby Rugby Club and the public would not have access. "It would be a concrete stadium with apparently commercial spaces, people would have to pay for access to those facilities." But the history of Western Springs is that it had been a fantastic community facility for concerts, sports and community use, he said. Ponsonby Rugby Club was 150 years old and had served the public for a long time, he said. There would be a lot of obstacles such as parking and getting a liquor licence to it finding another suitable venue, he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Public to be consulted over Auckland's Western Springs Stadium plans
Auckland councillors have voted 14-7 to consult the public on two proposals for the future use of Western Springs Stadium. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi After a fiery debate today, which saw Mayor Wayne Brown briefly walk out, Auckland councillors have voted 14-7 to consult the public on two proposals for the future use of Western Springs Stadium. There is also a third option: the council can choose to do nothing or explore other ideas for the stadium, including extending Ponsonby Rugby Club's lease, which expires in 2027. Until now, the stadium had been primarily used for rugby union matches and speedway racing. Last year, the council made the controversial decision to move speedway to Onehunga's Waikaraka Park after 100 years at Western Springs. The council's economic and cultural agency, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said its preference was for the venue to become a permanent home for Auckland Football Club, which would be called Auckland Stadium. Auckland FC owners, including billionaire Anna Mowbray and her former All Black husband Ali Williams, have proposed investing $300 million into re-developing the stadium into a 12,500-seat sports and entertainment precinct with a capacity of 25,000 for concerts. Auckland FC games are currently held at Go Media Stadium in Penrose. A competing proposal from CRS Records and Eccles Entertainment; the Western Springs Bowl, would see the venue be a 5000-8000-seat boutique stadium and be able to host up to 50,000 people for festivals. Under this proposal, Western Springs would remain home for Ponsonby Rugby Club and other clubs that currently use it. It would be funded by a mix of private and ratepayer funding. Councillors Mike Lee, Greg Sayers, Sharon Stewart, Ken Turner, Wayne Walker, John Watson, and Maurice Williamson voted not to support the options going out for public consultation. Several councillors questioned why continuing speedway at the stadium would not be presented to the public as an option. Tātaki has said the public could suggest other options for the stadium through its consultation process, but speedway was not recommended, with work at Waikaraka already underway. Public consultation on the proposals was expected to run from 19 May to 15 June 2025 and a final decision from council is set to be made in July. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
29-04-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Public consultation on the cards for Western Springs stadium plans
The TAU board has already evaluated the two plans and said the Auckland Arena with a new 12,500-seat sports stadium is its preferred option. A report and attachments of nearly 300 pages for councillors contain new details of the two plans, which have been presented to councillors behind closed doors and limited details shared with the public. Proposals 12,500-seat sports stadium 25,000-capacity concert venue 8 indoor basketball courts 6 padel courts 4 outdoor training fields 5 hospitality establishments High-performance facilities Cost: $200 million-$300m privately funded Western Springs Bowl Backers: Ponsonby Rugby Club, CRS Records, Eccles Entertainment Multi-sport hub for Ponsonby Rugby Club and other clubs 50,000-seat concert venue with permanent stage Boutique 5000-seat stadium Cost: $30m, including ratepayer funding of $18m-$20m Despite TAU saying it did not want proposals that rely on ratepayer funding, the Western Springs Bowl requires ratepayer funding of $18m to $20m, and the Auckland Arena proposal would involve ratepayers forking out $13m to move or upgrade Stadium Rd, which runs into Western Springs. The Auckland Arena will have up to 500 car parks for the public to access the gym/health centre, courts and hospitality between 5am and 10pm daily. The park and ride station at Constellation Drive on the North Shore has 370 car parks. In the report to the governing body, officers outline the benefits and downsides of the two proposals. It said the Auckland Arena would likely lead to a huge increase in the use of Western Springs, private investors would bring a strong history of running similar venues, and fund the ongoing running and maintenance costs. Other benefits include addressing shortages for indoor sports and a gap in high-performance facilities for football. The downsides include the potential impact on other stadiums, and the development of the outer fields displacing music venues, which could move to Go Media (Mt Smart) Stadium. The Western Springs Bowl would improve the venue for concerts and festivals, and attract more international acts; the 5000-seat stadium meets a need within the city's stadium network, particularly for rugby, said the report. The downsides would likely mean ongoing running costs for the council, particularly for Ponsonby Rugby Club; and fewer visitors than the Auckland Arena. Large events would also require new investment in public transport. The Auckland Arena team has released a video of its proposal, featuring a campaign to generate public support. All Black Ali Williams said: 'Western Springs is just crying out for it to happen.' The backers of the Western Springs Bowl have said they did not wish to comment beyond what TAU has released until the process is concluded. The report touches on a judicial review brought by the Western Springs Speedway Association (WSSA) over the lawfulness of the council decision last October to move the motorsport to Waikaraka Park in Onehunga. Officers said 'litigation gives rise to uncertainty in the decision-making process and may have financial and reputational implications' for the council and TAU. WSSA spokesman Jason Jones said the judicial review aimed to overturn the council's decision, go back to square one, and hold a fair process. Public consultation on the three options will run from May 19 to June 15.
