2015 Cricket World Cup
Venues
Table:
Venue
City
Country
Capacity
Matches

Sydney Cricket Ground

Sydney

Australia

48,000

5 (quarter-final, semi-final)

Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne

Australia

100,000

5 (quarter-final, final)

The 'Gabba

Brisbane

Australia

42,000

3

Adelaide Oval

Adelaide

Australia

53,500

4 (quarter-final)

WACA Ground

Perth

Australia

24,500

3

Bellerive Oval

Hobart

Australia

20,000

3

Manuka Oval

Canberra

Australia

13,550

3

Eden Park

Auckland

New Zealand

50,000

4 (semi-final)

Hagley Oval

Christchurch

New Zealand

20,000

3

Seddon Park

Hamilton

New Zealand

12,000

3

McLean Park

Napier

New Zealand

22,500

3

Wellington Regional Stadium

Wellington

New Zealand

37,000

4 (quarter-final)

Saxton Oval

Nelson

New Zealand

5,000

3

University Oval

Dunedin

New Zealand

6,000

3

Using the tabular data and the context snippets listed.

Respond to the question below: What was the name of the Construction Company that built the venue in the third fastest growing urban area in New Zealand ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Base your answer solely on the given information.

The Sydney Cricket Ground ( SCG ) is a sports stadium in Sydney , Australia . It is used for Test , One Day International and Twenty20 cricket , as well as Australian rules football , rugby league football , rugby union , and association football . It is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team , the Sydney Sixers of the Big Bash League and the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League . It is also the temporary home of the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League and the NSW Waratahs of Super Rugby , during the redevelopment of the Sydney Football Stadium . It is owned and operated by the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust . Until the 44,000 seat Sydney Football Stadium opened in 1988 , the Sydney Cricket Ground was the major rugby league venue in Sydney .
Sydney ( /ˈsɪdni/ ( listen ) SID-nee ) is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania . Located on Australia 's east coast , the metropolis surrounds Port Jackson and extends about 70 km ( 43.5 mi ) on its periphery towards the Blue Mountains to the west , Hawkesbury to the north , the Royal National Park to the south and Macarthur to the south-west . Sydney is made up of 658 suburbs , 40 local government areas and 15 contiguous regions . Residents of the city are known as Sydneysiders . As of June 2017 , Sydney 's estimated metropolitan population was 5,230,330 and is home to approximately 65% of the state 's population . Indigenous Australians have inhabited the Sydney area for at least 30,000 years , and thousands of engravings remain throughout the region , making it one of the richest in Australia in terms of Aboriginal archaeological sites . During his first Pacific voyage in 1770 , Lieutenant James Cook and his crew became the first Europeans to chart the eastern coast of Australia , making landfall at Botany Bay and inspiring British interest in the area . In 1788 , the First Fleet of convicts , led by Arthur Phillip , founded Sydney as a British penal colony , the first European settlement in Australia . Phillip named the city Sydney in recognition of Thomas Townshend , 1st Viscount Sydney . Penal transportation to New South Wales ended soon after Sydney was incorporated as a city in 1842 . A gold rush occurred in the colony in 1851 , and over the next century , Sydney transformed from a colonial outpost into a major global cultural and economic centre . After World War II , it experienced mass migration and became one of the most multicultural cities in the world .
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia , is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent , the island of Tasmania , and numerous smaller islands . It is the largest country in Oceania and the world 's sixth-largest country by total area . The population of 26 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard . Australia 's capital is Canberra , and its largest city is Sydney . The country 's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne , Brisbane , Perth , and Adelaide . Indigenous Australians inhabited the continent for about 65,000 years prior to the first arrival of Dutch explorers in the early 17th century , who named it New Holland . In 1770 , Australia 's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788 , a date which became Australia 's national day . The population grew steadily in subsequent decades , and by the time of an 1850s gold rush , most of the continent had been explored and an additional five self-governing crown colonies established . On 1 January 1901 , the six colonies federated , forming the Commonwealth of Australia . Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy , comprising six states and ten territories . Australia is the oldest , flattest , and driest inhabited continent , with the least fertile soils . It has a landmass of 7,617,930 square kilometres ( 2,941,300 sq mi ) .
The Melbourne Cricket Ground ( MCG ) , also known simply as The G , is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park , Melbourne , Victoria . Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club , it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere , the 11th largest globally , and the second largest cricket ground by capacity . The MCG is within walking distance of the city centre and is served by Richmond and Jolimont railway stations , as well as the route 70 tram . It is adjacent to Melbourne Park and is part of the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct . Since it was built in 1853 , the MCG has undergone numerous renovations . It served as the centrepiece stadium of the 1956 Summer Olympics , the 2006 Commonwealth Games and two Cricket World Cups : 1992 and 2015 . Noted for its role in the development of international cricket , the MCG hosted both the first Test match and the first One Day International , played between Australia and England in 1877 and 1971 respectively . It has also maintained strong ties with Australian rules football since its codification in 1859 , and has become the principal venue for Australian Football League ( AFL ) matches , including the AFL Grand Final , the world 's highest attended league championship event . Home to the National Sports Museum , the MCG has hosted other major sporting events , including international rules football matches between Australia and Ireland , international rugby union matches , State of Origin ( rugby league ) games , and FIFA World Cup qualifiers . Concerts and other cultural events are also held at the venue with the record attendance standing at 143,750 for a Billy Graham evangelistic crusade in 1959 . Grandstand redevelopments and occupational health and safety legislation have limited the maximum seating capacity to approximately 95,000 with an additional 5,000 standing room capacity , bringing the total capacity to 100,024 . The MCG is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and was included on the Australian National Heritage List in 2005 .
Melbourne ( /ˈmɛlbən/ ( listen ) MEL-bərn ) [ note 1 ] is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria , and the second most populous city in Australia and Oceania . Its name refers to an urban agglomeration of 9,993 km2 ( 3,858 sq mi ) , comprising a metropolitan area with 31 municipalities , and is also the common name for its city centre . The city occupies much of the coastline of Port Phillip bay and spreads into the hinterlands towards the Dandenong and Macedon ranges , Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley . It has a population of 5 million ( 19% of the population of Australia ) , and its inhabitants are referred to as Melburnians . [ note 2 ] The city was founded on 30 August 1835 , in the then-British colony of New South Wales , by free settlers from the colony of Van Diemens Land ( modern-day Tasmania ) . It was incorporated as a Crown settlement in 1837 , and named Melbourne by Governor General Richard Bourke on 10 April 1837 in honour of the British Prime Minister , William Lamb , 2nd Viscount Melbourne . In 1851 , four years after Queen Victoria declared it a city , Melbourne became the capital of the new colony of Victoria . In the wake of the 1850s Victorian gold rush , the city entered a lengthy boom period that , by the late 1880s , had transformed it into one of the world 's largest and wealthiest metropolises . After the federation of Australia in 1901 , it served as interim seat of government of the new nation until Canberra became the permanent capital in 1927 . Today , it is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region and ranks 15th in the Global Financial Centres Index . Melbourne is home to many of Australia 's best-known landmarks , such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground , the National Gallery of Victoria and the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building . It is also the birthplace of Australian impressionism , Australian rules football , and the Australian film and television industries .
The Brisbane Cricket Ground , commonly known as the Gabba , is a major sports stadium in Brisbane , the capital of Queensland , Australia . The nickname Gabba derives from the suburb of Woolloongabba , in which it is located . Over the years , the Gabba has hosted athletics , Australian rules football , baseball , concerts , cricket , cycling , rugby league , rugby union , soccer and pony and greyhound races . At present , it serves as the home ground for the Queensland Bulls in domestic cricket , the Brisbane Heat of the Big Bash League and Women 's Big Bash League , and the Brisbane Lions of the Australian Football League . Between 1993 and 2005 , the Gabba was redeveloped in six stages at a cost of A $ 128,000,000 . The dimensions of the playing field are now 170.6 metres ( east-west ) by 149.9 metres ( north-south ) , to accommodate the playing of Australian rules football at elite level . The seating capacity of the ground was 42,000 in 2010 , which has been reduced in recent times due to new electronic scoreboards and corporate facilities . For international cricket matches , the capacity is reduced to 36,000 due to new scoreboards and the addition of a pool deck , as well as wider sight screens . For AFL matches the capacity is slightly larger at 41,974 .
Brisbane ( /ˈbrɪzbən/ ( listen ) ) is the capital of and the most populated city in the Australian state of Queensland , and the third most populous city in Australia . Brisbane 's metropolitan area has a population of approximately 2.5 million , and the South East Queensland metropolitan region , centred on Brisbane , encompasses a population of more than 3.6 million . [ failed verification ] The Brisbane central business district stands on the historic European settlement and is situated inside a peninsula of the Brisbane River , about 15 kilometres ( 9 miles ) from its mouth at Moreton Bay , a bay of the Coral Sea . The metropolitan area extends in all directions along the hilly floodplain of the Brisbane River Valley between Moreton Bay and the Taylor and D'Aguilar mountain ranges . It sprawls across several of Australia 's most populous local government areas ( LGAs ) - most centrally the City of Brisbane , which is by far the most populous LGA in the nation . The demonym of Brisbane is Brisbanite , whilst common nicknames include Brissy , River City and Brisvegas . One of the oldest cities in Australia , Brisbane was founded upon the ancient homelands of the indigenous Turrbal and Jagera peoples . Named after the Brisbane River on which it is located - which in turn takes its name from Sir Thomas Brisbane , the Governor of New South Wales at the time of the city 's founding - the area was chosen as a place for secondary offenders from the Sydney Colony . A penal settlement was founded in 1824 at Redcliffe , 28 kilometres ( 17 mi ) north of the central business district , but was soon abandoned and moved to North Quay in 1825 , opening to free settlement in 1842 . Brisbane was chosen as the capital when Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales in 1859 . During World War II , Brisbane played a central role in the Allied campaign and served as the South West Pacific headquarters for United States Army General Douglas MacArthur . A diverse city with 32.2% of its metropolitan population being foreign born , Brisbane is ranked as a world city , and ranks highly in ratings of livable cities .
Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide , South Australia , located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide . The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football , but has also played host to rugby league , rugby union , soccer , tennis among other sports as well as regularly being used to hold concerts . Austadiums.com described Adelaide Oval as being one of the most picturesque Test cricket grounds in Australia , if not the world . After the completion of the grounds most recent redevelopment in 2014 , sports journalist Gerard Whateley described the venue as being the most perfect piece of modern architecture because it 's a thoroughly contemporary stadium with all the character that it 's had in the past . Adelaide Oval has been headquarters to the South Australian Cricket Association ( SACA ) since 1871 and South Australian National Football League ( SANFL ) since 2014 . The stadium is managed by the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority ( AOSMA ) . Its record crowd for cricket was 55,317 for the Second Ashes Test on 2 December 2017 and its record crowd for an Australian rules football match was 62,543 at the 1965 SANFL Grand Final between Port Adelaide and Sturt .
Adelaide ( /ˈædəleɪd/ ( listen ) AD-ə-layd ) is the capital city of the state of South Australia , and the fifth-most populous city of Australia . The demonym Adelaidean is used to denote the city and the residents of Adelaide . Adelaide is situated on the Adelaide Plains north of the Fleurieu Peninsula , between the Gulf St Vincent in the west and the Mount Lofty Ranges in the east . Its metropolitan area extends 20 km ( 12 mi ) from the coast to the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges , and stretches 96 km ( 60 mi ) from Gawler in the north to Sellicks Beach in the south . Named in honour of Queen Adelaide , consort to King William IV , the city was founded in 1836 as the planned capital for the only freely-settled British province in Australia . Colonel William Light , one of Adelaide 's founding fathers , designed the city centre and chose its location close to the River Torrens , in the area originally inhabited by the Kaurna people and known as Tarndanyangga ( place of the red kangaroo ) . Light 's design , now listed as national heritage , set out the city centre in a grid layout , interspaced by wide boulevards and large public squares , and entirely surrounded by parklands . Early colonial Adelaide was shaped by the diversity and wealth of its free settlers , in contrast to the convict history of other Australian cities . Until the post-war era , it was Australia 's third-largest city . It has been noted for its leading examples of religious freedom and progressive political reforms , and became known as the City of Churches due to its diversity of faiths . Today , Adelaide is noted for its many festivals and sporting events , its food and wine , its coastline and hills , and its large defence and manufacturing sectors . Adelaide 's quality of life has ranked consistently highly in various measures through the 21st century .
The WACA /ˈwækə/ ( formally the WACA Ground ) is a sports stadium in Perth , Western Australia . The stadium 's name derives from the initials of its owners and operators , the Western Australian Cricket Association . The WACA has been referred to as Western Australia 's home of cricket since the early 1890s , with Test cricket played at the ground since the 1970-71 season . The ground is the home venue of Western Australia 's first-class cricket team , the Western Warriors , and the state 's Women 's National Cricket League side , the Western Fury . The Perth Scorchers , a Big Bash League franchise , played home matches at the ground until 2019 . The Scorchers and Australian national team have shifted most matches to the nearby 60,000-seat Optus Stadium . The pitch at the WACA is regarded as the quickest and bounciest in the world . These characteristics , in combination with the afternoon sea-breezes which regularly pass the ground ( the Fremantle Doctor ) , have historically made the ground an attractive place for pace and swing bowlers . The outfield is exceptionally fast , contributing to the ground seeing some very fast scoring - as of February 2016 , four of the nine fastest Test centuries have been scored at the WACA . The WACA has also hosted 7 scores of 99 in Test cricket - the most of any ground in the world . Throughout its history , the ground has also been used for a range of other sports , including athletics carnivals , Australian rules football , baseball , soccer , rugby league , rugby union , and international rules football . However , recent years have seen most of these activities relocated to other venues .
Perth ( /ˈpɜːrθ/ ( listen ) PURTH ) is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia ( WA ) . It is named after the city of Perth , Scotland and is Australia 's fourth-most populous city , with a population of 2.06 million living in Greater Perth . Perth is part of the South West Land Division of Western Australia , with most of the metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain , a narrow strip between the Indian Ocean and the Darling Scarp . The first areas settled were on the Swan River at Guildford , with the city 's central business district and port ( Fremantle ) both later founded downriver . Captain James Stirling founded Perth in 1829 as the administrative centre of the Swan River Colony . It gained city status ( currently vested in the smaller City of Perth ) in 1856 and was promoted to the status of a Lord Mayorality in 1929 . The city inherited its name due to the influence of Sir George Murray , then Member of Parliament for Perthshire and Secretary of State for War and the Colonies . The city 's population increased substantially as a result of the Western Australian gold rushes in the late 19th century . During Australia 's involvement in World War II , Fremantle served as a base for submarines operating in the Pacific Theatre , and a US Navy Catalina flying boat fleet was based at Matilda Bay . An influx of immigrants after the war , predominantly from Britain , Italy , Greece , and Yugoslavia , led to rapid population growth . This was followed by a surge in economic activity flowing from several mining booms in the late 20th and early 21st centuries that saw Perth become the regional headquarters for several large mining operations . As part of Perth 's role as the capital of Western Australia , the state 's Parliament and Supreme Court are in the city , as is Government House , the residence of the Governor of Western Australia .
Bellerive Oval ( currently known as Blundstone Arena for sponsorship reasons ) is a cricket and Australian rules football ground located in Bellerive , a suburb on the eastern shore of Hobart , Tasmania . It is the only venue in Tasmania which hosts international cricket matches , and has a spectator capacity of 19,500 . The venue is best known as the home ground for the state cricket teams , the Tasmanian Tigers and Hobart Hurricanes , as well as a venue for international Test matches since 1989 and one-day matches since 1988 . It is also the secondary home ground for AFL club North Melbourne , who play three home games a season at the venue . The stadium has undergone significant redevelopment to accommodate such events .
Hobart ( /ˈhoʊbɑːrt/ ( listen ) ) is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania . With a population of approximately 240,342 ( over 45% of Tasmania 's population ) , it is the least populated Australian state capital city , and second smallest if territories are taken into account ( after Darwin , Northern Territory ) . The city is located in the state 's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent , making it the most southern of Australia 's capital cities . Its skyline is dominated by the 1,271-metre ( 4,170 ft ) Mount Wellington , and its harbour forms the second-deepest natural port in the world , with much of the city 's waterfront consisting of reclaimed land . The metropolitan area is often referred to as Greater Hobart , to differentiate it from the City of Hobart , one of the five local government areas that cover the city . Founded in 1804 as a British penal colony , Hobart is Australia 's second oldest capital city after Sydney , New South Wales . Prior to British settlement , the Hobart area had been occupied for possibly as long as 35,000 years , by the semi-nomadic Mouheneener tribe , a sub-group of the Nuennone , or South-East tribe . The descendants of these Aboriginal Tasmanians often refer to themselves as 'Palawa ' . Since its foundation , the city has expanded from the mouth of Sullivans Cove in a generally north-south direction along both banks of the River Derwent , from 22 km inland from the estuary at Storm Bay to the point where the river reverts to fresh water at Bridgewater . Penal transportation ended in the 1850s , after which the city experienced periods of growth and decline . The early 20th century saw an economic boom on the back of mining , agriculture and other primary industries , and the loss of men who served in the world wars was counteracted by an influx of immigration . Despite the rise in migration from Asia and other non-English speaking regions , Hobart 's population remains predominantly ethnically Anglo-Celtic , and has the highest percentage of Australian-born residents among Australia 's capital cities .
Manuka Oval ( branded UNSW Canberra Oval for Greater Western Sydney Giants home games in the Australian Football League ) is a sporting venue in Canberra , the capital of Australia . It is located in Griffith , in the area of that suburb known as Manuka . Manuka Oval has a seating capacity of 13,550 people and an overall capacity of 16,000 people , although this is lower for some sports depending on the configuration used . The area on which the ground is situated has been used for sport since the early 20th century , but was only enclosed in 1929 . It has since undergone several redevelopments , most recently beginning in 2011 . Currently , Manuka Oval is primarily used for cricket ( during the summer months ) and Australian rules football ( during the winter months ) . The ground was previously also used for rugby league and rugby union matches , but there are now more suitable venues in Canberra for those sports . As a cricket ground , Manuka Oval is the home venue for the ACT Comets ( men 's ) and the ACT Meteors ( women 's ) teams , and has also hosted a number of international matches , including at the 1992 and 2015 World Cups . As an Australian rules football ground , Manuka Oval 's primary tenant is the Eastlake Football Club , which plays in the North East Australian Football League ( NEAFL ) . Australian Football League ( AFL ) games are played at the ground on a semi-regular basis . The Greater Western Sydney Giants have used the oval as a secondary home ground since the club entered the AFL in 2012 and AFL Women 's in 2017 . Other AFL clubs had previously hosted games at the venue , most notably the North Melbourne Football Club from 1998 to 2006 .
Canberra ( /ˈkænbərə/ ( listen ) ) is the capital city of Australia . Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation , it is Australia 's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall . The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory ; 280 km ( 170 mi ) south-west of Sydney and 660 km ( 410 mi ) north-east of Melbourne . On 1 January 1901 , federation of the colonies of Australia was achieved . Section 125 of the new Australian Constitution provided that land , situated in New South Wales and at least 100 miles ( 160 km ) from Sydney , would be ceded to the new federal government . Following discussion and exploration of various areas within New South Wales , the Seat of Government Act 1908 was passed in 1908 which specified a capital in the Yass-Canberra region . The land was transferred to the Commonwealth by New South Wales in 1911 , creating the Australian Capital Territory , two years prior to the capital city being founded and formally named as Canberra in 1913 . It is unusual among Australian cities , being an entirely planned city outside of any state , similar to Washington , D.C. in the United States or Brasília in Brazil . Following an international contest for the city 's design , a blueprint by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin was selected and construction commenced in 1913 . The Griffins ' plan featured geometric motifs such as circles , hexagons and triangles , and was centred on axes aligned with significant topographical landmarks in the Australian Capital Territory . The city 's design was influenced by the garden city movement and incorporates significant areas of natural vegetation . As the seat of the government of Australia , Canberra is home to many important institutions of the federal government , national monuments and museums .
Eden Park is New Zealand 's largest sports stadium . Located in central Auckland , New Zealand 's largest city , it is three kilometres southwest of the CBD , on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount Eden and Kingsland . Although used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer , it has hosted rugby league and football matches . In 2011 it hosted pool games , two quarter-finals , both semi-finals and the final of 2011 Rugby World Cup . In doing so it became the first stadium in the world to host two Rugby World Cup Finals , having held the inaugural final in 1987 . It was a venue for the 2015 Cricket World Cup , which was jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand . Eden Park is considered one of rugby union 's most difficult assignments for visiting sides : New Zealand 's national rugby union team , the All Blacks , have been unbeaten at this venue for over 40 consecutive test matches stretching back to 1994 . Eden Park is the site of the 2021 Te Matatini . It will also be the site for 2021 Women 's Cricket World Cup and the final of the 2021 Women 's Rugby World Cup .
Auckland ( /ˈɔːklənd/ AWK-lənd ) ( Māori : Tāmaki Makaurau ) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand . The most populous urban area in the country , Auckland has an urban population of around 1,570,100 ( June 2018 ) . It is located in the Auckland Region - the area governed by Auckland Council - which includes outlying rural areas and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf , resulting in a total population of 1,618,400 . Auckland is a diverse , multicultural and cosmopolitan city , home to the largest Polynesian population in the world . The Māori-language name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau , meaning Tāmaki desired by many , in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography . Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east , the low Hunua Ranges to the south-east , the Manukau Harbour to the south-west , and the Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west . The surrounding hills are covered in rainforest and the landscape is dotted with dozens of dormant volcanic cones . The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitematā Harbour on the Pacific Ocean . Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have a harbour on each of two separate major bodies of water . The isthmus on which Auckland resides was first settled around 1350 and was valued for its rich and fertile land . The Māori population in the area is estimated to have peaked at 20,000 before the arrival of Europeans . After a British colony was established in 1840 , William Hobson , then Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand , chose the area as his new capital .
New Zealand ( Māori : Aotearoa [ aɔˈtɛaɾɔa ] ) is a sovereign island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean . The country has two main landmasses - the North Island ( Te Ika-a-Māui ) , and the South Island ( Te Waipounamu ) - and around 600 smaller islands . It has a total land area of 268,000 square kilometres ( 103,500 sq mi ) . New Zealand is about 2,000 kilometres ( 1,200 mi ) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and 1,000 kilometres ( 600 mi ) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia , Fiji , and Tonga . Because of its remoteness , it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans . During its long period of isolation , New Zealand developed a distinct biodiversity of animal , fungal , and plant life . The country 's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks , such as the Southern Alps , owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions . New Zealand 's capital city is Wellington , and its most populous city is Auckland . Sometime between 1250 and 1300 , Polynesians settled in the islands and developed a distinctive Māori culture . In 1642 , Dutch explorer Abel Tasman became the first European to sight New Zealand . In 1840 , representatives of the United Kingdom and Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi , which declared British sovereignty over the islands . In 1841 , New Zealand became a colony within the British Empire and in 1907 it became a dominion ; it gained full statutory independence in 1947 and the British monarch remained the head of state .
Hagley Oval is a cricket ground located in Hagley Park in the central city of Christchurch , New Zealand . The first recorded match on the ground was in 1867 , when Canterbury cricket team hosted Otago cricket team . Canterbury used the ground infrequently from then through until the 1920s , but hardly stopped during World War I . The first match in the Plunket Shield was played there in December 1907 , when Canterbury played Auckland . Canterbury returned there in 1979 , and played a number of their 1993/94 Shell Cup home matches at the ground .
Christchurch ( /ˈkraɪstʃɜːrtʃ/ ; Māori : Ōtautahi ) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region . The Christchurch urban area lies on the South Island 's east coast , just north of Banks Peninsula . The urban area is home to 377,200 residents , and the territorial authority has 385,500 people , which makes it the second-most populous city in New Zealand after Auckland and before Wellington . The Avon River flows through the centre of the city , with an urban park located along its banks . Archaeological evidence has indicated that people first settled in the Christchurch area in about 1250 . Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on 31 July 1856 , making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand . The Canterbury Association , which settled the Canterbury Plains , named the city after Christ Church , Oxford . The new settlement was laid out in a grid pattern centred on Cathedral Square ; during the 19th century there were few barriers to the rapid growth of the urban area , except for the Pacific to the east and the Port Hills to the south . Agriculture is the historic mainstay of Christchurch 's economy . The early presence of the University of Canterbury and the heritage of the city 's academic institutions in association with local businesses has fostered a number of technology-based industries . Christchurch is one of five 'gateway cities ' for Antarctic exploration , hosting Antarctic support bases for several nations . The city suffered a series of earthquakes between September 2010 and January 2012 , with the most destructive of them occurring at 12.51 p.m. on Tuesday , 22 February 2011 , in which 185 people were killed and thousands of buildings across the city collapsed or suffered severe damage .
Seddon Park is a cricket ground in Hamilton , New Zealand . It is the fourth-largest cricket ground in the country , and is renowned for its village green setting , affording a picnic atmosphere for spectators .
Hamilton ( Māori : Kirikiriroa ) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand . It is the seat and most populous city of the Waikato region , with a territorial population of 165,900 , the country 's fourth most-populous city . Encompassing a land area of about 110 km2 ( 42 sq mi ) on the banks of the Waikato River , Hamilton is part of the wider Hamilton Urban Area , which also encompasses the nearby towns of Ngaruawahia , Te Awamutu and Cambridge . The area now covered by the city was originally the site of several Māori villages , including Kirikiriroa , from which the city takes its Māori name . By the time English settlers arrived , most of these villages , which sat beside the Waikato River , were abandoned as a result of the Invasion of Waikato and land-confiscation ( Raupatu ) by the Crown . The new British settlement was renamed Hamilton after Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton , the commander of HMS Esk , who was killed in the Battle of Gate Pā , Tauranga . Initially an agricultural service centre , Hamilton now has a diverse economy and is the third fastest growing urban area in New Zealand , behind Pukekohe and Auckland . Hamilton Gardens is the region 's most popular tourist attraction . Education and research and development play an important part in Hamilton 's economy , as the city is home to approximately 40,000 tertiary students and 1,000 PhD-qualified scientists .
McLean Park is a sports ground in Napier , New Zealand . The two main sports played at the ground are cricket and rugby union . It is one of the largest cricket grounds in New Zealand . McLean Park is a sports ground of international standards which includes the main outdoor stadium and the indoor Rodney Green Centennial Events Centre . The home teams for this ground are the Hawke 's Bay Rugby Union and Central Districts Cricket Association . The two ends of the stadium are named the Centennial Stand End and Embankment End . Its close proximity to the International Date Line makes it the world 's easternmost Test match ground .
Napier ( /ˈneɪpiər/ NAY-pee-ər ; Māori : Ahuriri ) is a New Zealand city with a seaport , located in Hawke 's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island . The population of Napier is about 62,800 as of June 2019 . About 18 kilometres ( 11 mi ) south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings . These two neighbouring cities are often called The Bay Cities or The Twin Cities of New Zealand . The total population of the Napier-Hastings Urban Area is 134,500 people , which makes it the sixth-largest urban area in New Zealand , closely followed by Dunedin ( 122,000 ) , and trailing Tauranga ( 141,600 ) . Napier is about 320 kilometres ( 200 mi ) northeast of the capital city of Wellington . Napier ( 63,900 ) has a smaller population than its neighbouring city of Hastings ( 70,600 ) but is seen as the main centre due to it being closer in distance to both the seaport and the main airport that service Hawke 's Bay , and Hastings ' population figure includes 13,000 people living in Havelock North , which is often considered a town in its own right . The City of Napier has a land area of 106 square kilometres ( 41 sq mi ) and a population density of 540.0 per square kilometre . Napier is the nexus of the largest wool centre in the Southern Hemisphere , and it has the primary export seaport for northeastern New Zealand - which is the largest producer of apples , pears , and stone fruit in New Zealand . The Hawke 's Bay wine region is now the second largest in New Zealand after Marlborough , and grapes grown around Hastings and Napier are sent through the Port of Napier for export . Large amounts of sheep 's wool , frozen meat , wood pulp , and timber also pass through Napier annually for export . Smaller amounts of these materials are shipped via road and railway to the large metropolitan areas of New Zealand itself , such as Auckland , Wellington and Hamilton .
Wellington Regional Stadium ( known commercially as Sky Stadium through naming rights , and colloquially as The Cake Tin ) is a major sporting venue in Wellington , New Zealand . The stadium 's bowl site size is 48,000 m2 . The stadium was built in 1999 by Fletcher Construction and is situated close to major transport facilities ( such as Wellington railway station ) one kilometre north of the CBD . It was built on reclaimed railway land , which was surplus to requirements . The stadium also serves as a large-capacity venue for concerts .
Wellington ( Māori : Te Whanganui-a-Tara [ tɛ ˈfaŋanʉi a taɾa ] ) is the capital and second-most populous urban area of New Zealand , with 418,500 residents . It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island , between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range . Wellington is the major population centre of the southern North Island , and is the administrative centre of the Wellington Region , which also includes the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa . It is the world 's southernmost capital of a sovereign state . Wellington features a temperate maritime climate , and is the world 's windiest city by average wind speed . The Wellington metropolitan area comprises four local authorities : Wellington City , on the peninsula between Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour , contains the central business district and about half the population ; Porirua on Porirua Harbour to the north is notable for its large Māori and Pacific Island communities ; Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt are largely suburban areas to the northeast , together known as the Hutt Valley . As the nation 's capital since 1865 , the New Zealand Government and Parliament , Supreme Court and most of the public service are based in the city . Architectural sights include The Old Government Buildings - one of the largest wooden buildings in the world - as well as the iconic Beehive , the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament . Wellington is also home to several of the largest and oldest cultural institutions in the nation , such the National Archives , the National Library , the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa , and numerous theatres . It plays host to many artistic and cultural organisations , including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet . One of the world 's most liveable cities , the 2016 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranked Wellington 12th in the world , and was first in the world for both liveability and non-pollution by Deutsche Bank , from 2017-18 . Wellington 's economy is primarily service-based , with an emphasis on finance , business services , and government .
Saxton Oval , also known as Saxton Field , is a cricket ground in Saxton , Stoke , Nelson Region , New Zealand . Saxton Oval was one of the venues for the 2015 Cricket World Cup . It hosted three matches during the tournament .
Nelson ( Māori : Whakatū ) is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay . Nelson is the oldest city in the South Island and the second-oldest settled city in New Zealand - it was established in 1841 and was proclaimed a city by royal charter in 1858 . Nelson City is bordered to the west and south-west by Tasman District Council and to the north-east , east and south-east by Marlborough District Council . The city does not include Richmond , the area 's second-largest settlement . Nelson City has a population of around 50,000 , making it New Zealand 's 12th most populous city . When combined with the town of Richmond , which has roughly 15,000 residents , the whole conurbation is ranked as New Zealand 's 9th largest urban area by population . Nelson is well known for its thriving local arts and crafts scene ; each year , the city hosts events popular with locals and tourists alike , such as the Nelson Arts Festival . The annual Wearable Art Awards began near Nelson and a local museum , World of Wearable Art now showcases winning designs alongside a collection of classic cars .
The University of Otago Oval is a sports ground located at Logan Park , Dunedin , New Zealand , and owned by the Dunedin City Council . The ground was originally owned by the University of Otago , but ownership was transferred to the city council when a redevelopment was completed in the early 2000s . The ground is the home of both the Otago Cricket Association and the University of Otago Rugby Football Club , and is also used as a training base for the Highlanders Rugby Football team . The University of Otago Oval hosted the first game where the Umpire Decision Review System was officially used , after a test run in Sri Lanka in 2008 .
Dunedin ( /dʌˈniːdɪn/ ( listen ) duh-NEE-din ; Māori : Ōtepoti ) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand ( after Christchurch ) , and the principal city of the Otago region . Its name comes from Dùn Èideann , the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh , the capital of Scotland . The urban area of Dunedin lies on the central-eastern coast of Otago , surrounding the head of Otago Harbour , and the harbour and hills around Dunedin are the remnants of an extinct volcano . The city suburbs extend out into the surrounding valleys and hills , onto the isthmus of the Otago Peninsula , and along the shores of the Otago Harbour and the Pacific Ocean . Dunedin was the largest New Zealand city by territorial land area until superseded by Auckland with the formation of the Auckland Council in November 2010 . Archaeological evidence points to lengthy occupation of the area by Māori prior to the arrival of Europeans . The province and region of Otago takes its name from the Ngai Tahu village of Otakou at the mouth of the harbour , which became a whaling station in the 1830s . In 1848 a Scottish settlement was established by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland . Between 1855 and 1900 many thousands of Scots emigrated to the incorporated city . Dunedin became wealthy during the Central Otago Gold Rush , beginning in the 1860s . In the mid-1860s , and between 1878 and 1881 , it was New Zealand 's largest urban area . The city population at 5 March 2013 was 120,246 .