Whakaraupō Multiuse Hub Feasibility Study
Date: May 2024 – February 2025
Client: Whakaraupō Recreation Inc (WRI), Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, and Naval Point Club Lyttelton (NPCL) with support from Christchurch City Council and Sport Canterbury
Project Description
Christchurch City Council are partnering with Ngāti Wheke in the redevelopment of the 9-hectare Naval Point–Te Nukutai o Tapoa recreation reserve in Lyttelton. This reclaimed coastal area is home to a range of land and water-based sports groups and features the only deep-water boat ramp available to the public in Greater Christchurch.
As part of the redevelopment plan, space has been allocated for the construction of a Multiuse Hub Facility and a Wharewaka. The existing Naval Point Club facility on the site was damaged during the Christchurch earthquakes and is located within a cliff fall hazard zone, requiring the need for a modern, fit-for-purpose facility.
RSL’s Role
RSL led the development of an independent feasibility study in collaboration with the Project Steering Group. This included engagement with key stakeholder groups, such as Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga, affiliated members of Whakaraupō Recreation Inc, and Naval Point Club Lyttelton.
We facilitated a series of targeted workshops involving a wide range of user groups, including sailing and yachting communities, paddling groups, waka ama, youth development providers, commercial operators, and land-based sports organisations.
This engagement was supported by a comprehensive review of secondary data, including membership records, facility use patterns, and participation trends, to inform and validate the feasibility assessment.
Project Outcome
The final report provided details of use and costings for a multiuse building. A preliminary design with a range of indicative capital cost options, from an aspirational build to functional build for a multiuse hub and wharewaka were provided. The study also identified a location on site for these facilities at Naval Point-Te Nukutai o Tapoa.
