Kiwi fans told to stay away from One Direction

Harry Styles arrives at the UK Premiere of One Direction This Is Us 3D. Photo / AP

One Direction will hit the stage in Christchurch on Thursday night for the first New Zealand show of their world tour, but fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the pop heart-throbs are running out of options.

The British boy band will play three sold-out shows in New Zealand, one at Christchurch's CBS Canterbury Arena and two at Vector Arena in Auckland on Saturday and Sunday.

Some of the young One Direction fans camped outside the Rendezvous Hotel in Christchurch. Photo / Martin Hunter

Both Christchurch and Auckland airports have issued statements advising fans that One Direction won't be making public appearances when arriving or departing.

"We discourage the fans from coming to the airport," Auckland Airport spokesman Simon Lambourne said.

Christchurch Airport tweeted over the weekend that its advice not to bother turning up followed a request from the band's management to make them invisible for the safety of fans.

Fans would not be kicked out, just disappointed, the airport said.

One Direction was last in New Zealand in April 2012 and fans - who are known as Directioners - crowded outside the band's Auckland hotel hoping to catch a glimpse of them.

One Direction, which is made up of Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, shot to stardom after appearing on the British version of The X Factor.

The chart-toppers are one of a number of big pop acts to perform in New Zealand over coming weeks.

Rihanna has just played three shows at Vector Arena, and Beyonce will play four sold-out shows at the same venue later this month.

Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber are also touring New Zealand.

- AAP