One New Zealand Stadium has been given a glowing report after a series of audits put the venue’s accessibility promises to the test.

Assuring the stadium’s accessibility features were up to standard was part of a busy final month of preparation for Venues Ōtautahi. The audits saw groups with a variety of accessibility needs test every aspect of the stadium as part of operator’s the Christchurch City Council-owned events, venues and culinary company’s operational readiness programme.

Accessibility groups included those with low or no vision, low or no hearing, wheelchairs and the elderly. Accessibility was part of the stadium’s design, but this was the first time the finished product’s functionality was put under the microscope by members of the community.

New Zealand Spinal Trust Chief Executive Hans Wouters said their members gave the stadium a “glowing report” following the wheelchair accessibility audit.

“It was great to see accessibility was really thought about and incorporated. It has given our members more confidence to attend events at the stadium,” he said.

Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said it was critical to get the right people to test out how accessible the venue really was.

“From the start, we have carefully considered how we can make the stadium a place where every member of our community can enjoy so we’re thrilled that it’s shone through during these visits. Planning on paper and best intentions only get you so far, the only way to truly test the accessibility of the venue is to recruit people with lived experiences to test it out for themselves.”

The audits included all elements including arriving in the accessible carpark, which features 39 accessible carparks on-site and a drop-off bay, through to seating options, the height of ticket boxes and food concession stands and even a test to see how many wheelchairs fit in the public lifts – they managed to get six wheelchairs in. They also checked out the higher needs assisted toilet, shower and changing space which includes a mobility hoist, a height-adjustable, adult-sized changing table and height-adjustable hand basin.

While there was plenty of positive feedback, accessibility audit programme leader Director – Impact and Experience Todd Schmidt said they also got some great suggestions to make further improvements.

“It was inspiring and uplifting to hear all the positive feedback and to know that we have got the majority of items on the money. But we weren’t there to pat ourselves on the back, we encouraged those coming through the facility to give us honest feedback, we were looking for the gold nuggets of what we can improve between now and Super Round to make this stadium even more accessibility friendly.

“Through out the audits, our guests identified some areas that needed more signage, some posts that needed better marking for our low vision guests and suggested we included some physical menus at the food vendors to assist the deaf community.”

Schmidt said all items they received feedback on were minor improvements that they would be able to action prior to the stadium opening.

With a bumper schedule of events already announced and more on the way, it’s expected to be a busy opening 12 months for the stadium.

The community will be able to test out the stadium during its free community open day on Saturday May 2.