Pod hotel for Christchurch airport

Construction has begun on a Jucy Snooze hotel next to Christchurch Airport that will feature the option for people to sleep in pods. Photo / Jucy

Construction has begun on New Zealand's first "pod" hotel next to Christchurch Airport.

It's believed the new prototype hotel will be the most technologically advanced in the country when it opens later this year.

The Jucy pod hotel will be made up of hundreds of fibreglass and steel capsules, to provide low-cost accommodation for travellers to the Garden City.

The 282-bed "micro hotel" will take 10 months to construct, and is designed to new earthquake standards. Plans are under way for similar hotels for Queenstown and Auckland.

Each pod will feature unique technology which allows a traveller to control their own stay, Jucy boss Tim Alpe said.

Tourists will be able to check in, open and secure their rooms using a new smartphone app. Each pod will have a latest-generation tablet where guests will be able to wirelessly manage their room, travel itinerary and purchase entertainment on demand.

"Another [new app] will allow travellers to book ... local tourist attractions direct, download all of their bookings and take the information with them," Mr Alpe said.

The money-savvy will be able to pick up a room for $30 overnight or $20 for a two-hour stay between flights.

The side-entry pods would be 2 metres long, 950mm high, and 1050mm wide, a spokesman said.

The hotel will form part of a new retail development, Spitfire Square, adjacent to the airport. It is expected to be ready by mid-2016.