New Zealand’s largest venue management company, Venues Ōtautahi, has partnered with global tech firm MyVenue to roll out a new point-of-sale (POS) system across four of Christchurch’s premier event destinations.
The deal will see 200 MyVenue-powered payment devices installed throughout the new One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha, which hosts its inaugural event this weekend with the Super Round of Super Rugby Pacific. A further 100 devices will be deployed across Wolfbrook Arena, Hagley Oval, and the Christchurch Town Hall, streamlining transactions for thousands of patrons.
The rollout at the fully-roofed, multi-purpose One New Zealand Stadium is the centrepiece of the partnership. The arena, now the home of the champion Crusaders rugby team, is set to host major international events including All-Blacks test matches, the Rugby League World Cup, and headline concerts. The high-volume nature of these events demands a fast and reliable payment system to manage sales across concession stands, premium club areas, and corporate suites, much like the operational demands at Convene's flagship SoHo event venue.
A focus on guest experience
The decision to partner with MyVenue was driven by a strategy to modernise and improve the visitor experience. The new systems are designed to reduce queues and offer greater payment flexibility, reflecting a broader shift in consumer behaviour towards contactless and digital wallet payments.
MyVenue stands out as an industry leader with its fully integrated, highly scalable omnichannel solution. Their alignment with our long-term strategic direction is strong, particularly their focus on innovating the POS user-flow to enhance the guest experience that supports our event delivery.
The emphasis on a seamless user flow is critical in a stadium environment where fans want to get back to the action as quickly as possible. MyVenue's system is hardware-agnostic, supporting everything from traditional terminals and tablets to handheld devices for staff moving through the crowd. It also enables modern conveniences like mobile ordering and self-service kiosks, which are becoming standard expectations for patrons at global sporting venues.
This investment aligns with the rapid adoption of new payment technologies across New Zealand. A 2024 survey by Payments NZ revealed that 15 per cent of New Zealanders now consider a digital wallet their primary payment method, following years of strong growth in tap-and-go card use. By accommodating services like Apple Pay and Google Pay, Venues Ōtautahi is future-proofing its operations and catering to customer preferences.
MyVenue’s Expansion into New Zealand
For MyVenue, the partnership marks a significant entry into the New Zealand market and adds another major international venue to its portfolio. The company already powers transactions at over 290 venues across five countries, including for high-profile clients like the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
MyVenue CEO Tim Stollznow said the company was proud to partner with Venues Ōtautahi for the launch of one of the most anticipated stadiums in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Expanding into New Zealand is an important milestone in our growth journey, and sees MyVenue add another major league and World Cup host-venue to its global footprint,” Mr Stollznow says.
The partnership underscores Christchurch’s continued growth as a host city for world-class events and its ability to attract leading international technology providers. This integration of a globally recognised tech solution into the city's key public assets reflects the ongoing renewal and modernisation of Christchurch's infrastructure.
The bigger picture of digital payments
The upgrade is part of a wider trend across New Zealand towards more integrated and sophisticated payment systems. Just last year, Christchurch’s public transport network began rolling out the new national Motu Move system, allowing commuters to pay for fares with contactless debit and credit cards, a major step away from the old cash and top-up card model.
The convenience of seamless payments, whether for a bus fare or a pie at the rugby, is reshaping customer expectations nationwide. Businesses are increasingly expected to provide frictionless transaction experiences to remain competitive. As noted in a recent guide by financial infrastructure platform Stripe, the high adoption of smartphones and widespread bank support for platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay make digital wallets a key driver of payment volume in New Zealand.
As far back as 2005, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand highlighted the critical importance of payment systems to the nation's economic function. The reliability of this infrastructure, often taken for granted, is essential for everything from daily commerce to large-scale events that bolster the local economy.
With the new MyVenue system in place, Venues Ōtautahi is poised to deliver a world-class visitor experience for the array of sporting and cultural events on the horizon, starting with this weekend’s supercharged rugby showcase.
