Events at Pettigrew Green Arena, Napier

About Pettigrew Green Arena

Pettigrew Green Arena is Hawke’s Bay’s premier indoor sports and events centre, opened in April 2003 (www.eventfinda.co.nz) (aplproperty.co.nz). It was built by a public–private trust (backed by Napier City, Hastings District, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and the Eastern Institute of Technology) and cost about NZ$9.2 million on a 6,500 m² site (aplproperty.co.nz) (pgarena.squarespace.com). The arena was strategically placed at Riverside Park (Taradale), midway between Napier and Hastings, making it a region-wide hub (pgarena.squarespace.com) (www.eventfinda.co.nz). In fact, founding chairman Lawrence Yule called it “a unique and truly significant regional event centre” – a world-class facility to showcase local talent and major acts (pgarena.squarespace.com) (pgarena.squarespace.com). Catering to regional, national and international events, Pettigrew Green has been recognised for excellence (it earned a national SPARC Facility of the Year award in 2005 (aplproperty.co.nz)).

The venue’s signature feature is its large, architect-designed main hall. It offers retractable terraced seating (about 2,200 fixed seats across two stands of ~1,100 each) and a raised mezzanine (roughly 190 extra seats) (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz) (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz). A sprung wooden floor beneath the stands means the space quickly converts: it can host three full-sized courts for basketball or netball, plus volleyball, badminton or futsal layouts depending on need (aplproperty.co.nz) (www.pay2play.co.nz). Professional-grade lighting and sound gear are installed, along with multiple power drop points and even a dedicated media/live-stream booth, so concerts, conferences or ceremonies run smoothly (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz) (www.pay2play.co.nz). The arena’s versatility – sports floor by day, concert/banquet hall by night – makes it notable in the local scene. Free Wi-Fi is provided at major events (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz), and customer testimonials praise the clean facilities, helpful staff and good sightlines (with many noting the elevated stands and mezzanine give great views) (nz.fitfit.fitness) (10times.com). Overall, Pettigrew Green Arena stands as a vital multi-use landmark – an all-weather “sports & events centre” that the whole Hawke’s Bay community relies on (pgarena.squarespace.com) (10times.com).

Events and Programming

A wide spectrum of events is held at Pettigrew Green Arena. On the sports side, it hosts local club and national‐league competitions. The Hawke’s Bay Hawks (now Taylor Hawks) basketball team plays home games here, and regional netball championships or futsal tournaments are frequently scheduled. The expanded venue (with six new courts added in 2022/23) allows up to 11 indoor courts in total (www.apolloprojects.co.nz), enabling everything from inter-provincial volleyball meets to school qualifiers. Court sports like netball, volleyball, badminton and basketball are a staple year-round, and the facility also supports community leagues and fitness classes (basketball camps, futsal clinics, etc.).

Beyond sports, Pettigrew Green accommodates concerts, expos and cultural events. Australian and New Zealand artists have played here – for example, pop star Stan Walker performed a sold-out show in 2022 (rescheduling from 2021) and DJ Sub Focus headlined a dance night in 2022. The arena regularly hosts touring acts across genres (rock, reggae, electronic, country, and Māori cultural performances). It’s also home to recurring trade shows: annual events include the Hawke’s Bay Better Home & Living Show (spring fairs in 2024–2026) and Go Green Expo (sustainability fair) (www.eventfinda.co.nz). Career and tourism expos, graduation balls, wrestling matches, gymnastics meets and even school galas have been held here. Family-friendly kids’ activities – from ski try-outs to bouncy-play events – also turn up often. In short, any large indoor event finds a venue here: from dances and balls to e-sports competitions, conferences, dinners and job fairs. A 10Times listing sums it up as “a multi-purpose indoor sports and entertainment centre” where “people... attend Women’s expos or watch the Mighty Hawks play basketball,” with events including basketball and netball home games (10times.com).

Tickets and Booking

Tickets are sold on an event-by-event basis. Most shows use the arena’s official ticketing channels (often via a linked ticket seller or the arena’s box office), and sports games sell through team or arena outlets. For upcoming shows, check the event organisers’ announcements – ticket sales usually open weeks to months in advance. You can phone the Pettigrew Green Arena directly at (06) 845 9330 during business hours for information (www.eventfinda.co.nz). The box office (on-site) may open a couple of hours before a major event, but for big concerts it’s safest to buy ahead to avoid sellouts. Sign up for mailing lists of the teams or promoters if you want presale codes; college or community events sometimes have local box office deals. Ticket prices vary widely: sports tickets are often in the teens for kids and low twenties (NZ$) for adults, whereas popular concerts can range from maybe $50 up to $100 for premium seats. Keep an eye on local listings (Eventfinda, local papers) as well as the arena’s official site or social media for detailed box-office info and booking times.

Seating and Layout

The arena’s layout is simple but flexible. The main floor is a flat open court with two retractable stands along the long sides. The east and west stands each have about 1,100 seats, and there’s a continuous mezzanine level running above along one side (around 190 seats) (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz) (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz). For a basketball game, the court occupies the centre floor and all seats are on either side. For concerts or shows, the stage is usually set at one short end of the hall: in that case the side stands and mezzanine give slightly angled views, and floor seating or standing room is arranged in front of the stage. In general, centre seats in the retractable stands have the clearest view of centre-stage. The mezzanine offers a birds-eye perspective of the action below (many reviewers note it gives great sightlines (nz.fitfit.fitness)). VIP or reserved sections are rare here (it’s mostly general seating), but for some events front floor seats may be sold as “premium floor” and marked off. Note that when the full floor is needed for sports, no seating is left there – those areas become the playing surface. Sound and acoustics are good for an indoor gym – the wooden floor and high ceiling mean reflections are lively but a quality PA system smooths things out (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz). The arena does not generally have obstructed-view seats (only very side-end spots might face diagonally), but any seats immediately under heavy-lighting rigs or speaker arrays could have view gaps during setup. Overall, crowds get a clear line of sight: one fan review notes that seating “especially the elevated areas, provide great views for spectators” (nz.fitfit.fitness). If visiting, try to grab mid-floor or mid-stand seats for the most balanced perspective, and avoid sitting all the way at the extreme edges of the mezzanine for concerts.

Getting There and Parking

The Pettigrew Green Arena is located at 480 Gloucester Street in northern Napier (Taradale) (www.eventfinda.co.nz). It’s easy to reach by car from the Napier-Hastings motorway (State Highway 2); take the Gloucester Street exit and head inland towards Taradale’s main shopping strip. There is ample free parking on site – up to 385 car parks directly adjacent to the building (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz). Staff and gym-users have designated areas, but hundreds of event-goers can park at no charge. Best spots are right outside the doors (front of the gym block) or the large rear car park by the new courts. Note that after big events the last cars leaving can make Gloucester St busy, so allow a few extra minutes if traffic is heavy.

For public transportation, local Go Bus services run from Napier city centre and Hastings into Taradale. Bus routes (for example Napier’s Route 5/5A) stop near Gloucester Street – check the latest schedules on HB Bus’s site. The arena is about 6 km (a 10–15 min drive) from central Napier, and about 6 km from Havelock North. Taxis and rideshare vehicles (Uber, Ola) can drop passengers at the main entrance drive. There is a convenient drop-off spot by the front doors if you’re running late. The NapierHawke’s Bay Airport (NZ’s tenth busiest) is only a short drive (around 7–8 km) away, making it feasible to fly in and reach the venue in under 15 minutes by car or shuttle. For those walking or cycling, pedestrian paths connect from Taradale shops, and a bike rack is available near the main entrance. Security patrols ensure lighting in the car park and sidewalks is good even at night.

Inside the Venue

Upon entry, expect standard security checks (bags scanned) and ticket scanning. The arena has a large central foyer with clear signage to the court doors. Staff at the desk will direct you to your section. The venue slogan of helpful staff is genuine – visitors often praise how friendly and accommodating the reception and ushers are (nz.fitfit.fitness) (10times.com). The restrooms are located near the main lounge and at court entrances; family and accessible bathrooms are provided (see Accessibility below). In terms of facilities, a popular on-site Subway restaurant offers sandwiches and snacks (nz.fitfit.fitness), and vending machines stock drinks and basic snacks. For arena-wide events (like expos or sports nights) there may be temporary food stalls or a licensed bar area (depending on the promoter’s arrangement). A cloakroom or coat rack is sometimes open for larger functions (especially weddings or balls) – inquire when you arrive if you need to check outerwear. Lost property is held at reception for a couple of weeks. Free Wi-Fi is often provided during events, especially larger sports and entertainment nights (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz), so fans can stay connected. If you need cash, there isn’t an ATM inside, but Gloucester Street shops nearby have bank machines.

The arena’s smaller internal spaces are useful too. On the first floor is the Lady Pettigrew Theatre: a tiered 80-seat lecture/theatre space with stage, curtains and AV gear (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz). There are also meeting rooms – the Harris and Simkin rooms, each fitting ~50 people (and combinable into one ~100-person function room with AV hookups) (www.pay2play.co.nz) – plus a dance/aerobics studio (capacity ~50) and a boardroom (~20 seats) (www.pay2play.co.nz) (www.pay2play.co.nz). These are commonly used for small conferences, classes, community meetings or award presentations. Finally, the Arena Gym runs 24/7 as part of the complex: a full fitness centre with weights, cardio and Les Mills on-demand virtual classes (www.pay2play.co.nz). If you have a gym membership, you can enter anytime; otherwise a casual gym visit is possible via the fitness reception. All of these facilities are well-maintained and kept very clean – reviews mention the gym and halls always look neat and new (nz.fitfit.fitness).

Nearby Amenities

Just outside Pettigrew Green, Gloucester Street offers good pre- or post-event options. Immediately next door (a 3-minute walk east) is the Greenmeadows on Gloucester motel (48 Gloucester St) for budget accommodation and on-site cafe. Across the road sits the “Duke of Gloucester” pub – a popular Bar & Grill serving pizza, pub classics and a wide craft-beer tap list. A few blocks from the arena you’ll find Breakers Taradale (casual dining), Star of India (well-regarded Indian cuisine) and several cafes (The Barista Collective, etc.) for coffee or light meals. Hastings Road, a minute away, has takeaways and a small shopping center if you need groceries. For more dining variety, the Taradale Village strip (Havelock Road) has restaurants and bars, and Napier city centre (10–15 minutes’ drive) offers dozens of choices.

If you’re staying in the area, accommodations range from comfort motels in Taradale (Greenmeadows, Quality Inn Napier) to upscale Art Deco hotels by the Napier waterfront (about 15 minutes’ drive away). On event nights, local taxis and rideshare services run late into the evening; alternatively, Napier’s hourly Westshore-Taradale buses continue until around 10pm on weekdays (earlier on weekends), and you can always call a taxi. It’s wise to arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before start time to park and clear entry. After late-night events, buses on the main routes slow down, so pre-booked rides or carpooling work best. Otherwise, it’s a very safe area – Taradale is a lively suburb and well-lit – and many patrons simply walk back to their nearby motels if returning late.

What Makes This Venue Special

Several things set Pettigrew Green Arena apart. Architecturally it’s designed for versatility: the high ceiling and natural light (on sunny days) give it an airy feel unlike a dark gym. The wooden sprung floor and side stages are equally adept for a grand ball or a gangbusters rock concert. Culturally, it is the first and still one of only a few large indoor arenas in Hawke’s Bay, giving the region clout. It was envisioned in the late 1990s by community leaders (led by then-EIT Chairman Lawrence Yule) as the “missing piece” to Hawke’s Bay’s event infrastructure (pgarena.squarespace.com) (pgarena.squarespace.com). That vision came true: community members now say it’s the place “to go for big (and small) events of any description” (www.eventfinda.co.nz). The arena frequently hosts the very first visits to Hawke’s Bay by touring acts; for local fans, seeing a major national artist or an NBL game live here is a treat. Its atmosphere – friendly, down-to-earth and festive – is regularly noted by attendees (10times.com) (nz.fitfit.fitness). Finally, Pettigrew Green’s role in regional development is significant: it’s co-located with the regional Sports House offices and nearby Eastern Institute of Technology, forming a sports-education precinct. The 2022–23 expansion (Rodney Green Arena) has only reinforced its importance as “one of New Zealand’s largest indoor sports complexes” (www.apolloprojects.co.nz). In short, both artists and audiences love it as a well-appointed local arena with plenty of on-site support (parking, staff, accessible facilities) and plenty of community pride behind it.

Visitor Tips and Information

**Accessibility:** Pettigrew Green is wheelchair- and mobility-friendly. All main entrances are level or ramped, and there are reserved wheelchair spaces in the stands and courtside. Accessible restrooms are available, and additional seating can often be planned near companion seats. Service animals are allowed, and the venue meets NZ accessibility standards (note it’s a public building, so official features like lifts or ramps to upper levels are provided). If you need assistance on arrival, just ask staff at any entrance or reception desk.

**What to Bring:** Carry only essentials. Small bags/backpacks are fine, but large suitcases or coolers are discouraged. Weapons, illegal substances or hazardous materials are strictly banned. You **cannot** bring outside food onto the court floor – this area is kept clean for sports – though sealed bottled water or soft drinks are allowed (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz). Cameras and phones for personal photos are usually OK, but professional video equipment needs organiser approval. Sporting events sometimes sell programs or magazines; concerts may sell event posters or CDs. Cash is handy for snacks, though card is accepted at the Subway and bar. Wear comfortable shoes (especially if you’ll walk between venues in Taradale before/after). The arena has a coat-check only during some events – if in doubt, layer your clothing instead of bringing a big coat. And very importantly, Pettigrew Green is completely smoke-free (www.rodneygreenarenas.co.nz) (no smoking even in the parking lot).

**Age and Dress Code:** The arena welcomes all ages unless an event is explicitly 18+ (most concerts or bar events will say so). Sports and community events are family friendly. Dress is casual: jeans, shorts, sportswear or weekend attire is totally fine, depending on the event. For concerts you might step it up a bit (jeans/dressy casual), but no formality is required. Hats or costumes are fine for fun, but large ones that obstruct views could be turned away. If attending sports or energetic events, consider ear protection for kids (the stands can get lively).

**Common Mistakes:** Don’t leave early – parking fills up quickly at the end of big events and traffic can bottleneck. Avoid sitting right under a speaker cluster if you have headphones in your bag, and avoid seats on the far side of the mezzanine for concerts, as the stage might look tiny from far away. If you need Wi-Fi or cell service, be aware the arena wall structure can make signal patchy in the stands (try the lobby for better reception). Parking on the street is limited, so use the free lot. Late-night waits for rideshare or taxi can occur, so plan ahead. Finally, confirm show-specific rules on the organizer’s page – some events have extra rules (like no helium balloons or signs) not standard to the arena.