Fraser Park

Fraser Park is an eight minute drive from central Lower Hutt. You can get there from Harcourt Werry Drive, Percy Cameron Street, or Taita Drive.

The park is within 50 metres of the Hutt River and walkway. It's on the bus route, with a bus stop on the Taita Drive side of the Park.

Facilities include:

• an artificial sports turf with floodlights
• an artificial surface diamond
• a fully fenced, floodlit synthetic hockey turf (managed by the Wellington Regional Hockey Stadium Trust).

Sportsground bookings can be made by emailing:

ricohsportscentre@huttcity.govt.nz

Venue Hire Policy (PDF 228KB)

Facilities include:

• six squash courts
• open fields for sports and other activities
• toilets and changing rooms
• easy access and free parking
• indoor activity zone
• five meeting rooms
• viewing deck.

From 1 October 2024 new bookings can be made by contacting Mexted Sports Turf:

Phone: +64 4 595 4671

Email: RSCArtificials@mexteds.co.nz

All existing bookings will stand at quoted rates.

Current and new bookings for dates after 31 December 2024 will be tentative until they can be confirmed by January 2025. Toilets, changing rooms and lights will continue to be available at usual times (we are currently working through logistics for this).

Hirers should note that all bookings for lights should cover potential extended play scenarios, as this will not be able to be extended at short notice.

Bookings for squash club members will continue as usual, along with swipe card access to the facility.

There will be no casual bookings from non-members taken over the Transition Period as there will be no staff on site.

New members can join during the transition period Hutt City Council will need a minimum of 3 working days to issue access cards which can be collected from Walter Nash Stadium between 8:00am-8:00pm, 7 days a week.

The sauna will not operate over this time.

Phoenix Academy and Hutt Valley Softball are still on site. To contact them call:

Phoenix Academy:

Hutt Valley Softball: 027 567 5230

To make bookings please contact Ricohsportscentre@huttcity.govt.nz

If you have a booking, you will need a swipe card for entry which can be picked up at Walter Nash Centre 22/26 Taine Street, Taitā (2 mins by car) between 8:00am-8:00pm.

The Kadima Lounge will be available for hire on Saturdays and Sundays, to the public and to sports clubs. Standard booking fees will apply, but there may be some flexibility depending on the type of activity. eg: if the hire is aligned to a sporting event outside.

Bookings will be required and subject to there being no existing bookings. As there will be no staff on-site, hirers will be responsible for meeting hire agreement conditions including around opening and closing the space, behaviour, management of the food and drinks they bring in and fire evacuation procedures.

Hirers will be able to bring in their own food and non-alcoholic drinks. If alcohol is being served an alcohol licence will be required and the hirer owns the booking is accountable for arranging this and ensuring compliance. Hirers can apply for a special licence for a one-off event. These can be lodged with Hutt City Council’s Alcohol Licencing team.

The hirers would ultimately be responsible for ensuring they are being responsible hosts and for compliance with alcohol licence conditions. This includes things like monitoring intoxication levels, monitoring minors, providing substantial food items (not chippies and nuts), providing low and non-alcohol options, free drinking water, and transport options to ensure all their guests get home safely.

1. Why is the Ricoh Sports Centre currently closed?

   Fraser Park Sportsville, who have operated the facility since it opened in 2019, have made the decision to end their tenancy at 30 September 2024 for commercial reasons.

   Hutt City Council is currently looking for new operators and we hope to have appointed them by the end of the year. In the interim, unfortunately the facility will be closed to the public at times, due to the significant cost to operate it on a daily basis. We had not budgeted for this, and rate payers cannot be expected to carry this additional burden.

   Hutt City Council has committed to ensuring all of the core things needed for club sport will still be available – fields, toilets, changing rooms and lights. The facility will still be accessible for squash club members, sub-tenants and to groups who hire the activity zone and rooms.

2. Will the bar and café still operate?

   No. Groups hiring the facility will need to provide their own hospitality.

3. What will hirers need to do if they use the Kadima Lounge?

   Hirers will be responsible for meeting hire agreement conditions including around opening and closing the space, behaviour and the management of the food and drinks they bring in.

   Groups with bookings will be required to set up and pack down themselves and leave the area used in a clean and tidy state. They will not be required to vacuum or clean floors or bathrooms, as this will be done by cleaners organised by the Hutt City Council.

   The main bar and commercial kitchen in the Kadima will be out of bounds due to health and safety requirements, however the smaller bar in Kadima 2 can be used by prior arrangement. If alcohol is being served an alcohol licence will be required.

   Hirers will also be responsible for some of the roles previously carried out by staff, including procedures for fire evacuation.

4. What will happen to existing bookings for one-off events which expected to have a bar and catering?

   We have contacted all groups with bookings in place in October to discuss changes. For bookings in November and December, we will be in touch by the end of September.

   Hirers are able to bring their own food and drink and can use the downstairs kitchen. The main bar and commercial kitchen adjacent to Kadima 1 will be unavailable, but the smaller bar in Kadima 2 can be used by prior arrangement. Hirers will be required to provide their own plates, glasses, table clothes, cutlery etc. Alcohol and health and safety considerations will be on a case-by-case basis, in line with Council’s policy.

   For one-off events BYO may be possible, and this will be determined on a case-by-case basis, in line with our other facilities. If BYO is not permitted, an alcohol licence will be required.

5. What will happen to tournaments that expected to use the Ricoh Sports Centre facility?

   We have contacted everyone who has booked a tournament or event during the Transition Period to discuss any changes. If services they expected are not available, we will support hirers to find other solutions.

6. What will happen to tournaments and events tentatively booked for 2025?

   We have contacted everyone who has booked a tournament or event in 2025 to discuss changes. These dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.

7. What should you do if you have not been contacted?

   If you'd like to talk to someone about a future booking, please contact Ricohsportscentre@huttcity.govt.nz

8. Why can’t Council confirm 2025 bookings now?

   At this stage we don’t know how the facility and turfs will be operating next year, so we are unable to confirm bookings. The facility, the artificial turf and the No 1 artificial diamond are the spaces involved in a tender for a new operator of the facility. However, due to its size, Fraser Park still has the capacity to host regional and national events. There may need to be some flexibility and where we are unable to provide all of the services expected we will work with hosts to make alternate arrangements so events can go ahead. We are due to meet with Softball Hutt Valley this week to work through arrangements for three tournaments next year.

9. What do I do if I have booked the Activity Zone (indoor space) for after hours (when Walter Nash is closed)?  How do I get in, and what do I do when I leave?

   For regular bookings a swipe card will be provided for the Transition Period, with booking loaded onto the card. For other bookings, swipe cards can be picked up from Walter Nash between 8am-8pm 7 days a week. Hirers will be advised about this when they book, or their booking is confirmed. Weekend bookings will need to be made by midday Thursday prior.

10. If we have a regular weekly booking for trainings in the Activity Zone, can we hold on to our swipe cards, or do we need to hand them in and re-collect them from Walter Nash every week?  

    For regular bookings a swipe card will be provided for the Transition Period, with booking loaded onto the card.

11. What can I use if I have only booked an outdoor surface for use – can I use any indoor facilities at this time? How would I access changing rooms and toilets?

    Changing rooms and toilets will be available as they currently are. For those hiring outdoor spaces, other parts of the facility will not be able to be accessed.

12. My club has made a booking for the Activity Zone for an event open to members of the public.  What toilets will be open? With no on-site staff, what are our responsibilities for managing the building with all these people on site?  Will I need to do a sweep of the building to make sure they’ve all left?

    Downstairs toilets will be available. As there will be no staff on-site, hirers will be responsible for meeting hire agreement conditions including opening and closing the space (which includes ensuring all people have left), behaviour, and the management of food and drinks they bring in.

13. What do we do if our swipe cards do not work, and our booking is outside business hours?

    Swipe cards can be exchanged at Walter Nash Centre between 8am-8pm, 7 days a week.

14. Will Walter Nash Centre have enough swipe cards for all the bookings?

    Yes – as long as these are returned by one-off hirers within 48 hours of their hire as required.

15. How do we change bookings, or make new bookings?

    Because swipe card access needs to be arranged, 48 hours notice will be required for new bookings or changes to bookings. To make a new booking or enquire about an existing booking, contact Ricohsportscentre@huttcity.govt.nz.