John Key lauds revamped Eden Park

Prime Minister John Key, left, and Super City Mayor Len Brown meet and greet members of the public at the Eden Park official opening. Photo / NZPA.

Thousands of Aucklanders flocked to the official opening of the refurbished Eden Park stadium today, the centrepiece of next year's Rugby World Cup.

The redeveloped park was officially opened by Prime Minister John Key after a three-year, $240 million makeover.

The facility now has a new three-tier South Stand which can seat 21,500 people, two tiers on the east stand and an extended northern ASB stand.

Technology and access to the grounds also been improved to help turn it into what developers hope will be a sporting and cultural hub for the country.

"Come September 9, 2011 all eyes are going to be on New Zealand, particularly on this stadium," Mr Key said.

"We'll have at least 85,000 people coming from overseas, and a billion people watching the Rugby World Cup final when the All Blacks trounce one of those other teams, and when Sir Richard McCaw gets to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.

"This is going to be a huge event. This is the third largest sporting event in the world, preceded by the Olympic Games and the Fifa World Cup.

Mr Key said the stadium had been built ahead of time, within budget and looked absolutely magnificent.

Mr Key urged the thousands of people who had turned out for the opening to support the Rugby World Cup next year.

Eden Park Trust Board chairman John Waller said he hoped the stadium would be enjoyed by many people for many years in the future.

"This is an iconic stadium with a proud history, and we're very proud of what has been created here.

"Eden Park is hosting nine matches next year and will be the centrepiece of the Rugby World Cup. It's something we're all looking forward to and we're sure it will be an outstanding success for New Zealand."

Minister for the Rugby World Cup, Murray McCully, said the International Rugby Board had recently paid a visit to Eden Park.

"The smiles on their faces when they saw this stadium three or four weeks ago were wide and warm.

"The IRB verdict was that this is going to be a fantastic stadium, and all of those who have brought us to this point deserve to be commended.

"The commitment to a 60,000 capacity stadium is symbolic of the scale of our commitment to the Rugby World Cup event next year," Mr McCully said.

He added that the Rugby World Cup was not just about the All Blacks winning on home soil.

"Winning has a wider definition in 2011. We have to send away 80,000 to 90,000 visitors, who have been impressed with the hospitality of 4.5 million wonderful hosts."

Auckland's new Mayor Len Brown said Eden Park was not just going to be the ground for rugby or cricket, it would be a cultural hub for Auckland.

"This is the ground where we will celebrate our culture, our community, and our sport in the years ahead.

"This is a structure for the future of Auckland," Mr Brown said.

Earlier today, a dawn ceremony was held where Ngtai Whatua blessed four giant Maori carvings at each of the four main public entrances to the new stadium.

The carvings represent Tanemahuta, the spirit of the forest; Rongo, the god of peace; Tumatauenga, the god of war; and Tawhirimatea, the god of wind.

They were commissioned by the Eden Park Trust Board in conjunction with local iwi Ngati Whatua o Orakei.

The carvings were finished at Whakatane and Rotorua by carvers led by Ngati Whatua Kai Whakairo carver, Arekatera Maihi, who also designed the pieces.

- NZPA