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- By Desley Simpson, Auckland Deputy Mayor
April 15 marked a significant moment for Auckland – a moment where months of hard work, negotiation, and collaboration came together to set our city on a better path.
The Foundation Agreement signed between Auckland Council, the Crown, Eden Park, Auckland Cricket, and Auckland Rugby is more than a document. It’s a commitment to Aucklanders that we can do better with the assets we already have, and that we will.
For too long our stadium network has been held back by legacy arrangements that simply don’t reflect the needs of a modern, growing, globally connected city. Eden Park has carried the weight of being our national stadium while also trying to accommodate the needs of domestic cricket and rugby.
The result has been inefficiency, frustration, and missed opportunities. This agreement changes that. It reinforces Eden Park’s role as New Zealand’s national stadium while creating a clear pathway for cricket and rugby to secure permanent, fit for purpose homes.
Domestic cricket will move to Colin Maiden Park, supported by matched funding from Auckland Council and the Crown. Big international cricket matches stay exactly where they belong – at Eden Park. Rugby, too, is progressing plans for a long-term base that reflects the scale and professionalism of the sport today.
What this means for Aucklanders is simple – more. More concerts. More culture. More major events. More opportunities for our city to shine on the world stage. And importantly, better value for ratepayers through a stadium network that works together rather than competing with itself.
I’m particularly proud of what this means for Colin Maiden Park. Years ago, it was proposed for terraced housing – something I fought hard to prevent. Today it’s a thriving sporting hub, home to tennis, netball, hockey and more. Now, it will also become the home of domestic cricket.
This is exactly what good stewardship looks like – protecting community assets and ensuring they serve Aucklanders for generations, an outcome made possible with the support and leadership of the Ōrākei Local Board. What stands out most about this agreement is the spirit in which it was reached. Negotiations of this scale are rarely easy, and they certainly aren’t often unanimous.
Yet every partner came to the table with a genuine commitment to Auckland’s future. We worked through the challenges respectfully, constructively, and with a shared understanding that the status quo was no longer good enough. This agreement is not the final step, but it is a decisive one. It sets the foundation for a smarter, more integrated stadium network – one that reflects the ambition of our city.
