RWC: Wallabies get to see a more colourful side of Auckland

In 2005, Papatoetoe residents and businesses rallied against the unwelcome sex trade - but they say there's plenty of positives about the area, and the Wallabies are welcome. Photo / Richard Robinson

A town centre known for its issues with street workers and turf wars will be one of Australia's hosts during the Rugby World Cup.

As part of the tournament, the Auckland Council announced the Adopt-a-team campaign, where town centres and main streets around the city take up one of the rugby nations competing. From next week, businesses and shops will turn their streets red, white, yellow, blue or black - depending on their particular host country - to show their support.

But the Aussies might not be too impressed when they find out that one of their host towns has a somewhat shady reputation, with sex workers and turf wars being constant issues.

Auckland Council Rugby World Cup 2011 spokesman Simon Roche said business associations submitted up to three teams they would like to host.

Asked why Australia, in particular, was assigned to Hunters Corner, Mr Roche said it was a mixture of the Hunters Corner Association choosing Australia and making sure the countries were spread out around Auckland.

More upmarket centres, including Ponsonby and Parnell, will support England and Wales, respectively. Takapuna will host the French while Browns Bay will cater to South Africa.

Town centre manager for Hunters Corner and Old Papatoetoe Donna Lee said they were thrilled to be hosting Australia and businesses were looking forward to painting their centre Wallabies colours.

"We were given a list and there was Australia and Georgia left, so we chose Australia, but we were quite happy to have any team.

"We just wanted to be involved."

Mrs Lee said businesses and people in the community worked hard to dissociate themselves from what went on during the night.

"To be quite honest, we're a great community and we have a great business community. We try to accentuate the positives - we don't think about the other things," she said. "We're really excited about this and we hope people don't look at Hunters Corner that way. [The World Cup] is about getting the community excited and involved in something great that's happening."

Mt Eden village has also adopted Australia as its second team.

Irish supporters will be happy that Dominion Rd - arguably one of the city's busiest roads - has taken up Ireland. Auckland's traditional red-light district, K Rd, will be emblazoned in red, supporting Tonga.

Birkenhead will support Argentina, Mt Albert the US, Howick - Scotland, Grey Lynn - Samoa, Ellerslie - Fiji, Mangere Bridge - Russia, Orewa - Japan and Newmarket - Italy. Wellsford will host Canada.

For a full list of Adopt-a-team towns, go to: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.