We took a moment to stop and celebrate the new Open Country Stadium last week, now that the walls are up and interior works have begun to take shape. The once-empty site has quickly transformed into a space that will bring together students, athletes, families, and community groups from across the district and beyond.

"It's not just about bricks and mortar, it's about pride in the community," said Frank Healey the chair of Matamata Futures Trust at the roof shout last week. He believes that while the structure itself is impressive, it’s the story behind it that matters most. "The community-led aspect of this project has to be the most important part, and we want to reiterate the gratitude to those in the community who have supported us". Frank closed by saying, "We're building something special here, so thank you for your efforts."

 

The stadium is the result of close collaboration between the Matamata Futures Trust, Sport Waikato, the Ministry of Education, the Matamata-Piako District Council, grant funding, and a lot of generous community donors. Together, these partners have turned a shared vision into a reality, based around long-term community benefit.

Jake McDell who leads the project on behalf of Fosters said, "It's been special to see the collaboration between the school, the council and the community." He then cited Jim Collins' book Good to Great, “This project is reflective of the flywheel concept - it is all the initial effort that’s hard to get the flywheel moving but with the continued support of the community and key stakeholders it starts to build and gain momentum that overtime will create unlimited opportunities.” Finally, thinking about what this will mean for Matamata, he said, "I don't know if we're truly going to be able to measure what a positive impact this will have on the community."

 

The stadium’s development represents a strategic investment in the district's future - not just in terms of infrastructure, but also health, wellbeing, youth development, and community connectedness. The facility is expected to improve access for sports teams, encourage greater participation in physical activity, and create a new space for events that bring people together. The goal is to make it a truly shared facility, offering something for everyone.

With the walls now standing and the roof overhead, the focus has now shifted to the internal fit-out. Final works are progressing on schedule, with the official opening day planned for early 2026. Learn more about the stadium and see frequently asked questions here.