NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

RWC: Are we ready?

By Isaac Davison
NZ Herald·
1 Sep, 2011 05:30 PM9 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Fireworks will light up the night sky in Auckland. Photo / Supplied

Fireworks will light up the night sky in Auckland. Photo / Supplied

The Cup kicks off in a week. Herald reporters Michael Dickison and Isaac Davison look at how prepared we are.

EDEN PARK

The fans' pavilion on the old cricket ground will be completed early next week and the eyesore of scaffolding supporting the two temporary stands will be covered in Rugby World Cup banners.

Head groundsman Mark Perham said he was losing some sleep over the wear caused by 40 hours of opening ceremony rehearsals. But with growth lights running 24 hours a day and good weather forecast for next week, he said the grass should be immaculate.

THE BEER

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Eden Park's biggest stress with a week until kickoff is not the pitch, transport, or the new stands, but working out how to open 100,000 beer cans a game.

General manager sales and marketing Tracey Morgan said that with all the major infrastructure completed, the last hurdle was overhauling the bar system from cups to cans - a World Cup requirement.

All cans must be opened at point of sale so they cannot be used as weapons, but this gives staff sore fingers. Instead, Eden Park has imported from the United States 300 can-opening devices of the type used by airlines.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM

North Harbour's new broadcast tower and control room was opened on Tuesday, after being tested in two ITM matches. Renovations to allow more media and secure spaces for VIPs were completed last month. All food and beverage stands have been moved to the perimeter of the stadium to enable better flow of large crowds into the stands.

NEW PLYMOUTH

Stadium Taranaki's temporary seating, which lifts capacity to 26,000, is in place. Stadium staff and Taranaki Rugby Club's offices had be moved to council buildings to make room for tournament officials.The move is expected to be completed today.

Discover more

New Zealand

RWC: Hopes of good weather for opening

30 Aug 05:30 PM
New Zealand

RWC: Park near sold out as fever builds

30 Aug 05:30 PM
Airlines

RWC: Seats cheap for rugby escapers

30 Aug 05:30 PM
New Zealand

RWC: Media standoff continues

31 Aug 05:30 PM

DUNEDIN

Construction of Stadium Otago finished in late July and external landscaping - tree planting and paving - finished on Wednesday. Carisbrook Trust head Malcolm Farry said the new pitch, which is grown under a roof and sewn together by 20 million nylon strands, had stood up to its first tests. He joked that he would not consider handing out earplugs despite reports that crowd noise was amplified tenfold by the confined space.

WELLINGTON AND OTHERS

Stadium Wellington has finished installing temporary seating to boost capacity to 40,000.

Smaller stadiums such as Whangarei, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Napier, Nelson and Invercargill have needed minor changes for the cup, such as temporary seating. All are now ready and waiting for their biggest audiences. Rotorua Stadium general manager Peter McCloud said: "If the cup started tonight, we'd be ready to go."

THE CLOUD AND SHED 10

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Queens Wharf fanzone and function centre was completed this week and will host the Pacific Islands Forum from September 6. The last touches are being applied to Shed 10, which is expected to be ready early next week.

WAKA

Construction of the waka-shaped pavilion is complete and it is ready to be assembled on-site at Te Wero Island in the week of September 26.

The three marquees that are also part of Waka Maori and will showcase carving, ta moko, weaving and fashion will be built after the waka is in place. Event planners say Waka Maori will be ready to open on October 13. It runs until October 23.

FANZONES AND ADOPT A SECOND TEAM

Plans for fanzones in Auckland are complete, but some testing and their official openings have still to be done.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Queens Wharf daily programme starts on Saturday next week, and other community fanzones - at the Trusts Stadium, Mangere town centre and Albany Lakes - will open on October 8.

Thirty-four town centres in Auckland have adopted second teams, and all 19 visiting teams have been adopted somewhere in the city. Flags, bunting and posters have been distributed to these areas in their team colours.

AIRPORT

About 100 activities are in place at Auckland Airport to welcome visitors.

Changes include a lounge for processing teams and VIPs, banners, bunting and flags around terminals, extra staff and security screening, layout changes, more parking and refreshed arrivals areas and signs.

Two new hotels and food and beverage options have also been made available.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But Air New Zealand's Koru lounges may be squeezed, as the airline tells its members they may be restricted from bringing in guests during busy periods of the tournament.

TRANSPORT

All Auckland Transport's plans have been finalised since the Bledisloe Cup trial last month.

The emphasis is now on telling Aucklanders they need to plan for getting around during the tournament. Apart from improving services - including updating rail signals and introducing announcements of stops on some buses and trains - the biggest focus has been on encouraging Aucklanders to take public transport to matches.

The number of Eden Park spectators using public transport increased from 10 per cent in 2007 to 53 per cent at the Bledisloe Cup.

TAXIS

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Taxi have been booked weeks in advance - bringing a warning to avoid last-minute transport arrangements.

Extensive vehicle inspections and customer service training have put the country's taxis in top shape, says Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish.

Drivers will also be closely monitored to prevent visitors being overcharged or taken along unnecessarily long routes.

But taxis will be extremely busy during the cup, and corporates are warned to plan ahead to avoid transport problems.

CAR RENTALS

Rental cars have been retained through the quiet winter season instead of being retired.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But otherwise the influx of World Cup visitors is nothing the industry can't handle, says Apex Rentals director Tony Quinlivan.

HOTELS

Windows have been polished, gardens remulched, faster internet installed and international staff taught some rugby lore at the Stamford Plaza in Auckland.

General manager Peter Gee said his hotel was raring to go - "everything is spick and span".

The Langham Hotel has upgraded beds in all rooms and the Hotel Council's Auckland chairman, Jeffrey van Vorsselen, said there was little left to do.

"Quite a lot of money has been put in throughout the industry to make sure the arrivals are perfect."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

There is still spare capacity for last-minute visitors.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

There is some anxiety among the restaurants near Eden Park, which are worried could overwhelm the strict controls put on them.

Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson said there had been frustrations about liquor licensing in particular - but he was confident the sector was ready.

"People have had years to plan for this - if they're not ready now they're never going to be."

Extra security had been arranged for waterfront restaurants to keep crowds from breaching capacity limits, Mr Robertson said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

BEER SUPPLY

Stadiums have received their shipments of beer, and the country's fanzones will have theirs dispatched next week.

DB Breweries, which brews Heineken in New Zealand, said there had been years of planning to avoid the risk of running out on big nights.

More than 2000 catering and bar staff have been trained by Heineken about host responsibilities and how to make the "perfect pour". Amsterdam's master pourer, Franck Evers, was brought in for one-on-one training.

VOLUNTEERS

About 7000 volunteers have been put through orientations, online training and workshops - and are ready to go except for their final "passport to play" checks.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

They have been given full uniforms, from winter coats down to trousers, and accreditations and pocket guides.

They have already been out to help team welcomes, and will also assist visitors at stadiums, drive tournament vehicles and perform many other tasks.

THE OPENING CEREMONY

About 3500kg of pyrotechnics - plus 14 tonnes of equipment - have been readied for opening night celebrations.

Plans have been meticulously put together, but the fireworks and lighting display cannot be fully tested before the big night: "We are shooting from the hip," said party planner Mike Mizrahi.

For the ceremony at Eden Park, 1000 volunteers have been assembled and put through dance practices. Rehearsals will continue next week.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

THE REAL NZ FESTIVAL

A thousand events have been planned and co-ordinated for the entire Cup period, promising to turn New Zealand into a two-month festival.

Real New Zealand festival director Briony Ellis said the events had been timed to fit around World Cup matches - and preparations for later events were stillongoing.

Next week's opening ceremony will be the big kick-off, but Ms Ellis said provinces had their own plans to showcase what they were about, all feeding into the overall festival.

POLICE, SECURITY

More than 10,000 training hours have gone into stadium security in Auckland.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The security arrangements, led by private firm Darien Rush Security, have been tested in seven Super Rugby and 10 ITM Cup matches - and at the Bledisloe Cup test last month.

A control centre has also been set up between police, the city council and government authorities with CCTV cameras to monitor traffic, transport and crowds across Auckland.

Operational plans for police - including leave restrictions to make sure there are enough staff - provide for more than 300 officers to patrol Eden Park and the waterfront on opening night.

CITY PRESENTATION

About 4400 lamp-post banners have been put up around Auckland - the biggest such programme the city has seen.

Fourteen cross-street banners have also gone up, as well as two building wraps - one on 45 Queen St and the other on the KPMG Building at the Viaduct Harbour.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Buses, trains, the tournament's operational vehicles, transport hubs, bus shelters and billboards have all been adorned with tournament-themed decorations.

THE ALL BLACKS?

After two consecutive losses, questions are being asked about the form of the home team a week before the opening match.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Local contract for $70.5m Napier council and library precinct

09 May 06:00 PM
New ZealandUpdated

Her husband died years ago. Then she found a 'miracle' in her house's charred ruin

09 May 06:00 PM
Premium
Letters to the Editor

Letters: Brooke van Velden should remember she rode women’s wave to win Tamaki electorate

09 May 06:00 PM

One tiny baby’s fight to survive

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Local contract for $70.5m Napier council and library precinct

Local contract for $70.5m Napier council and library precinct

09 May 06:00 PM

'We’re using this pivotal project to drive local job creation and economic momentum.'

Her husband died years ago. Then she found a 'miracle' in her house's charred ruin

Her husband died years ago. Then she found a 'miracle' in her house's charred ruin

09 May 06:00 PM
Premium
Letters: Brooke van Velden should remember she rode women’s wave to win Tamaki electorate

Letters: Brooke van Velden should remember she rode women’s wave to win Tamaki electorate

09 May 06:00 PM
Gisborne mayor invites Act leader to witness community support efforts

Gisborne mayor invites Act leader to witness community support efforts

09 May 06:00 PM
Connected workers are safer workers 
sponsored

Connected workers are safer workers 

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP