Both of the mayoral candidates in Christchurch, New Zealand have knocked back plans for a new rugby stadium to be built in the city.
John Minto and Lianne Dalziel – the current Mayor – have both questioned the financial viability of the stadium, with the latter labelling the project as a “stupid, bloody stadium in the middle of nowhere”.
Minto said the new stadium would cost around NZ$247m (£139m/€162m/$181m), while repairing the existing Lancaster Park venue would cost an estimated NZ$50m.
“Do we really want this big rugby stadium in the middle of town, when we have Lancaster Park?” Minto said, according to news website Stuff.co.nz. “Insurers say it could be fixed. If the government wants to build the stadium, I’m very happy for them to build it, as long as it’s not left to ratepayers to pick up the tab.”
Dalziel would prefer that a new multi-purpose stadium be built and made clear her thoughts on a new development.
She said: “Can we make a multi-use facility work? Could we put student accommodation in there, instead of just building a stupid, bloody stadium in the middle of nowhere?”
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