The familiar chime of the Harry Potter theme song greeted Rotorua fans as they waited with anticipation to get their hands on the eighth and final instalment of the famed wizard's magical journey.
Today McLeod's Booksellers staff had butterbeer cupcakes, a themed photo booth and a live, acoustic rendition of the Harry Potter theme music as the 11am embargo lifted and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child officially hit the shelves.
The bookstore was buzzing with groups of adults and children shuffling around distractedly waiting for the clock to tick over and the boxes to be opened.
McLeod's had about 60 pre-orders for the book, which is the script of the West End play and tells the story of Harry Potter and his friends 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts.
"This puts Harry in his 30s, married with children and struggling as an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic. This book is the next instalment keeping the wizarding world franchise going," Mike Byrne of McLeod's said.