Who is to gain from UC’s new Rec Centre in 2027?

With UC’s student enrolments blasting off faster than sushi balls on a Friday lunchtime, the recreation centre is receiving an upgrade fit to facilitate the new faces at UC and beyond.

Named after one of the principal stars in te Ika o Te Raki (the Milky Way), Takarua’s construction isn’t hard to miss (it’s full of bloody cranes and diggers now) and is set to make sure you’re not shoulder to shoulder every time you step inside.

Features such as a full size, floodlit outdoor pitch, multiple gym spaces and three rooms for massage and physiotherapy were outlined by Executive Director People, Culture and Campus Life Paul O’Flaherty, who was adamant the space will usher in a new era of physical movement.

“Takurua is a larger space than our current recreation centre and will provide more opportunities for our diverse student population who may want to use spaces for anything from Jiu Jitsu to theatre rehearsals,” O’Flaherty said.

In a statement to Canta, the University of Canterbury Amateur Sports Society (UCASS) said the 50-year-old rec centre’s outdated design and facilities have meant many sports have suffered amidst ballooning student numbers.

“The UC Rec Centre can't cope with that demand… for our club, it means that unfortunately some members miss out,” the society said.

“In contrast, Takurua will provide a modern, inclusive, and flexible space that better meets the needs of today’s students and community members. [It’s] set to be a modern, inclusive, and flexible space that works for today’s students, giving more people the chance to get involved in sport, try out different activities, and be part of a more lively and connected sporting community.”

With the expansion, sports that have suffered due to a lack of facilities and space, such as futsal, Ki-o-Rahi and volleyball, will get to flourish.

“This is especially exciting for UCASS, as our social sports leagues will thrive in a modern, accessible environment… the increased space and better facilities, participation in these sports is expected to grow, helping strengthen UC’s sporting culture and get more students involved.”

UCASS said the new space will allow them to grow social sports to unprecedented heights at UC, giving chances to different sports and individuals alike to stay healthy and keep moving.

“More space means we can add more teams into leagues, promote popular sports more effectively and give students more chances to get involved, whether they've played before or are trying a sport for the first time.”

“We hope this helps grow the social sports scene at UC, so playing sports doesn't just stop after high school and students can continue being active throughout their time at uni.”