The Cloud reclaims prime city real estate

An artist's impression of The Cloud. Photo / Supplied

Aucklanders finally reclaimed prime city real estate as the Cloud on Queen's Wharf opened.

The 174m long, billowy structure was filled with people for the first time yesterday afternoon as Prime Minister John Key launched the venue in which the Government invested $9.8 million.

The Cloud and nearby Shed 10 will be part of the biggest fanzone for the Rugby World Cup, with a capacity of 15,000. The wharf opens for the public on September 9, and will feature 97 bands and a food and wine festival during the tournament.

Its completion marked the transformation of a dull, disused waterfront space into the entertainment hub of the World Cup and a huge bar in the heart of Auckland's waterfront.

Before a crowd including dignitaries, International Rugby Board executives, All Black greats and business leaders, Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully said: "A year ago this site where we are standing was used for drying bananas and storing used vehicles. It looks a bit different now."

Mr McCully said the world needed to know New Zealand was more than a picturesque tourist destination - it was also a "innovative, sophisticated, technologically advanced country".

His speech was followed by a short film, scored by Gareth Farr and splashed across 18m-wide screens, showing striking images of New Zealand's brightest industries - whale-watching, sauvignon blanc, agri-tech and others.

The Cloud is filled with 165 businesses hand-picked "because their product was changing international perceptions of this country".

The Quay St end of the venue houses Christchurch-made jetpacks and amphibious boats alongside wireless electricity generation and home brewery kits. The back section of the Cloud will host the Taste Festival, which showcases 350 New Zealand wines, and unique, locally made dishes such as beer-braised beef and honey kumara pie.