Stadium Taranaki
(0 users)Alternate: Rugby Park, Yarrow Stadium
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Next Event
Chiefs Super Rugby vs Hurricanes Super RugbySun 28 Mar 2027 03:00
Established
1972 (54 years old)
Capacity
30,000
Build Cost
NZ$15 million
Architect
Country
New Zealand
Location
New Plymouth
Timezone
UTC +12:00 New Zealand Standard Time (NZST)
Coordinates
-39.070278, 174.065
| Upcoming | |||
| 28 Mar | Chiefs SuChiefs Super Rugby  | 3:00am |  HurricaneHurricanes Super Rugby |
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Description
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Stadium Taranaki is a sports stadium in New Plymouth, in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand.
The stadium is situated in the central suburb of Westown. Named the third best rugby stadium on earth by New Zealand Rugby World magazine in May 2009, the stadium conforms with the International Rugby Board's "clean stadium" policy.
The stadium was originally simply known as Rugby Park, and was known through much of the early 2000s as Yarrow Stadium. In February 2025, stadium sponsors Yarrows the Bakers announced they were not going to renew their naming rights agreement, which had been in place since August 2002.
The primary tenant of this 25,000-capacity stadium is the Taranaki Rugby Football Union which has a representative team playing in the country's principal rugby union competition, the National Provincial Championship. Since 2013, the stadium has played host to the Chiefs team as part of a new alliance, after Taranaki cut their ties with the Wellington-based Hurricanes.
The venue was first developed as a rugby ground in 1931, with the first stadium completed in 1947. Further stands were built at the same end and older ones demolished. Four floodlight towers were built in 1998 to hold night events. A major redevelopment saw two new grandstands added and considerable modernisation in 2002, and further enhancements to the venue were completed in 2010, raising the capacity to more than 25,500 for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and other fixtures.
The stadium was a personal legacy of the late Noel Yarrow, a pioneering Taranaki baker and businessman, and active philanthropist. Noel was a passionate rugby supporter, and the major grandstand overlooking the field's western sideline is a tribute to his support.
The east stand was deemed earthquake prone in November 2017 with the west stand being ruled out of action in June 2018. Rugby was played at the venue in 2018 and 2019 but spectators had to watch matches from the ends, while a grandstand was erected in front of the east stand. Temporary infrastructure was bought into cater for the changes as changing facilities and corporate areas were off limits.
In May 2019 owners, the Taranaki Regional Council, made a decision to repair and refurbish both grandstands in order for both stands to comply with earthquake regulations. The Taranaki Rugby Football Union and a catering company moved to alternative locations.
It was announced in November 2020, that the East Stand would be demolished and replaced by a similar sized stand, but with extra facilities at the back to house events without opening the entire stand. The contract to repair the West Stand was awarded to Clelands Construction in December 2020 and involves major earthquake strengthening works including improvements to ground stability, foundation tiebacks and new steel beams. The roof of the West Stand will remain intact while the bleachers and seating are removed to gain access to the ground below. The west stand was the first to be completed in 2023, while the east stand was opened in April 2025, which holds less than its previous.
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