Saxton Field

Saxton Field is a 65-hectare sport and recreation park situated between Nelson and Richmond, in the Stoke area, about 12 minutes' drive from Nelson Airport. It is the result of a long-term joint project by Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council, which developed and continue to manage the complex through a Saxton Field Committee made up of two councillors from each council. Walkways and playgrounds connect across the green space, and Sports House on the northern side of Saxton Stadium is the home of Sport Tasman and an administration hub for local sport, recreation and community organisations.

The park offers a wide range of hireable indoor and outdoor spaces, marketed under the name Whare Huihuinga.

Indoor spaces

• Saxton Oval Pavilion — capacity 169. The most distinctive building on site, a 100-metre-long cylindrical structure that won an NZIA Nelson Marlborough Architecture Award for Arthouse Architecture. Covered walkways extend from each end into the central function space, with views over the athletics and football area and out to the cricket oval. Facilities include a commercial kitchen, bar, lounge, toilets, projector and screen, tables and chairs, and PA. Wheelchair parking and access via the north entrance; a floor plan is published for download.
• Saxton Netball Pavilion — capacity 250. A large first-floor function room that can be divided into two separate rooms, with a balcony overlooking the netball courts and views across the Waimea Inlet to the Arthur Range in Kahurangi National Park. Facilities include a commercial kitchen, bar, PA, and projector and screen. Wheelchair access is via a lift in Saxton Stadium during opening hours.
• Saxton Football Pavilion — single-storey clubrooms suited to smaller functions, with bifold doors opening onto a terrace bordering the sports fields.
• Hockey and Softball Pavilion — a two-storey facility with a lounge and bar overlooking the hockey turfs, offices, meeting rooms, changing rooms and viewing decks.
• Saxton Stadium — the largest building at Saxton Field, home to numerous indoor sports.
• Cricket Indoor Community Centre — a 35.5m x 12.1m indoor space.
• Oval VOC (venue operations command centre) and the Table Tennis Hall are also available for hire.

Outdoor spaces

Hireable outdoor venues include Saxton Oval, the Saxton Velodrome, the athletics track, hockey turf, netball courts, softball fields, junior football fields, the archery field, Avery Field and several open greens — Airfield, Circus, Champion, Harakeke and Two Oaks. Saxton Pond is used as a ceremony setting. There is substantial parking, with the main entrance on Saxton Road.

Suitability for meetings and events

Saxton Field is primarily a sport and recreation complex, but the pavilions give it genuine capability for meetings, conference dinners, training days and corporate functions. The Netball Pavilion is the largest single function space at 250, and its dividing wall makes it usable for a plenary plus breakout arrangement; the Oval Pavilion at 169 suits seated dinners and mid-size sessions with a strong outlook. Both include commercial kitchens, bars and AV basics, so catering and presentation requirements can be handled on site.

The site's real strength for MICE organisers is sports-linked business — national tournaments, codes' AGMs and conferences, coaching and officiating courses, and incentive or team-building programmes that can use the fields, velodrome and trails between sessions. Pricing is by enquiry. For city-centre alternatives, see other Nelson venues.