If you've ever stood on the sideline watching kids play Friday night junior rugby, or trained under dim, inadequate lighting, you'll know exactly why this project matters.Campbell Park is a busy place. Clubs are growing, and our community's appetite for sport and recreation isn't slowing down. But our current lighting hasn't kept pace. Inadequate light means knock-ons during training, safety concerns for players of all ages, and a hard cap on what we can offer - no night games, no evening tournaments, and clubs footing the bill for temporary lighting just to get a session in. That's about to change.
Lights on Fields 1, 2 and 3
Kotahi Hub is undertaking a $350,000 lighting upgrade across Fields 1, 2, and 3 at Campbell Park. Field 1 currently has no permanent lighting whatsoever - clubs hiring in temporary lights just to run rugby trainings on that field. We're not just putting up poles. The project involves geotechnical testing, professional design, and full resource consenting - done properly, so it lasts. And the lights themselves will be the latest LED technology: lower energy use, reduced light spill into neighbouring properties, and a safer, more comfortable environment for everyone on and around the park.
What this means for our community
Permanent, quality lighting across all three fields opens up Campbell Park.Friday night junior rugby, already growing in popularity can continue to expand without being constrained by what the park can currently offer after dark. Evening training sessions become safer, simpler, and free from the hassle and cost of hiring in equipment. Night games and tournaments, previously out of reach, become a genuine option. And for sports like football, lit fields unlock new sessions, new time slots, and new participants who couldn't previously commit to daytime-only schedules.More light means more sport, more recreation, and more reasons for our community to be out on the park together.
How you can help
This is a community project in every sense and we'd love your support to help make it happen. We're seeking donations big and small to help get this project off the ground alongside our grant funding. Every contribution goes directly towards brighter, safer fields for our tamariki and our community.If you'd like to contribute no amount is too small, and every dollar gets us closer to lighting up Campbell Park for everyone.
What's next
We're targeting completion by mid-late 2026. We'll keep you updated as the project progresses on our Instagram and Facebook.
