The National Sports Arena, Cook Islands’ key indoor sports facility at Tereora, has undergone a significant upgrade to improve its ability to host both local and international events.

These essential works include a full roof replacement and a major restoration of the arena’s timber flooring, ensuring it meets the highest standards for upcoming competitions, including the Netball World Youth Cup Regional qualifiers which starts this afternoon.

The upgrade included roof replacement and floor restoration.

According to a Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) statement, the replacement of the deteriorating roof became a priority after initial repairs since 2019 failed to stop leaks.

In July, Makeke Contractors successfully completed the full roof replacement, addressing the issue and securing the facility for future use, the statement said.

The upgrade project also marked the first major floor treatment since the arena opened in 2009.

Local business Alpha Beta Floors and Pools Ltd, led by Teariki Pirangi, partnered with Hardwood Technology NZ to restore the timber flooring. Their work involved sanding, necessary repairs, and applying four coats of polyurethane.

“Impressively, the project was completed eight days ahead of schedule.”

The improvements extended beyond the Arena, with lighting upgrades completed and preparations ongoing at the National Stadium’s track and field facilities for the Cook Islands Games in October.

According to the statement, the project was a stakeholder collaboration where CIIC collaborated with key stakeholders, including Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC), Netball Cook Islands, local contractors and technical experts, “to ensure the project was delivered to the highest standards, meeting both international competition requirements and community expectations”.

With the upgrades completed, the National Sports Arena is set to host the Oceania Netball Youth World Cup Qualifiers this week, followed by the Cook Islands Games in October.

“These upgrades reflect the government’s commitment to providing high-quality, fit-for-purpose sports facilities that support the development of local talent and the long-term viability of the infrastructure,” CIIC said.

“The Cook Islands Government thanks the public for their patience and understanding during the upgrade works. The enhancements to the National Sports Arena will offer a safer, more enjoyable experience for athletes and the wider community.”