Christchurch city councillors voted in favour of granting a new ground lease for the oval to the Canterbury Cricket Trust, which wants to install the permanent lights.
City councillor Yani Johanson abstained from the vote. Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner, and city councillors Phil Mauger, Tim Scandrett, Jake McLellan, James Daniels, James Gough, Anne Galloway, Aaron Keown, Sara Templeton, Jimmy Chen, Pauline Cotter, Mike Davidson, Catherine Chu, Melanie Coker and Sam MacDonald opted to grant the lease.
Cr Johanson said he abstained because he is waiting for Greater Christchurch Regeneration associate minister Poto Williams to make a decision on amending the District Plan to allow the lights.
They can only be installed if Ms Williams uses her powers under the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act to make the lights a permitted activity.
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The trust already has a ground lease for the Hagley Oval Pavilion and four lighting towers but it is requesting a new lease to install additional lighting towers to meet international broadcast standards.
It wants the lights to secure high-profile games for the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
More than 2200 public submissions were received by the city council on the lease renewal and permanent lighting plan.
The high number came after New Zealand Cricket sent an e-newsletter to cricket fans nationwide, outlining its support of the trust’s bid to install the lights.
