World Cup Countdown: Communities rally for event

The country will come alive during the tournament with a $9.5 million lottery fund paying for 175 public events. Photo / Richard Robinson.

Whangarei will paint the town red, Rotorua hopes to say "Kia ora" to its visitors and Hamilton is closing parts of its CBD for eight days of partying.

Cities and towns hosting games and fans for this year's Rugby World Cup say plans are on track with match and training venues, fan zones, transport issues and volunteer hubs.

The country will come alive during the tournament with a $9.5 million lottery fund paying for 175 public events that will form the REAL New Zealand festival, showcasing the best of our culture and economy to visitors. But most places were looking at unique ways to entertain their guests.

In Whangarei, businesses will be painted red and locals encouraged to buy red T-shirts in support of the Canadian, Japanese and Tongan teams the city will host.

In Hamilton, The Great Race (rowing), the Hamilton Half Marathon and the Cambridge to Hamilton Kayak Race are part of a celebration of the Waikato River coinciding with the competition. Council spokeswoman Monica Holt said parts of Hood and Alexandra Sts would be closed for eight days during the Cup and transformed into its official fanzone.

Rotorua, which is hosting Ireland, Russia, Fiji, Samoa and Namibia, is encouraging its residents to greet visitors with a "Kia ora". The Rotorua International Stadium had transformed its concrete terraces into a new version of the historic Pink Terraces.

In New Plymouth, there are plans for an international village in the city centre. It is also hosting a Maori rugby exhibition at Puke Ariki Museum as well as showing sculptor Len Lye's works.

Wellington City Council's Derek Fry, said the buzz was still "a few weeks off" but believed excitement levels would build towards the end of this year's Tri Nations.

Mr Fry said the city's Festival of Carnivale, showcasing 200 different events around Wellington, will start on August 25 and run until the week of the quarterfinals. He said a light and sound luminere to be held at the waterfront would be one of the highlights during its festivities.

Palmerston North City Council's Jane Julian said the council was proposing to open the NZ Rugby Museum when the Romanian, Argentinian and Georgian rugby teams are in the city.

Dunedin is hosting a seafood festival at Port Chalmers where visitors can sample blue cod, clams and the harbour's salmon. The city is also celebrating its Scottish heritage with a Celtic Arts Festival while the Southern Sinfonia will be performing Last Night of the Proms for homesick English travellers.

Venture Southland's Rex Capil said the city's CBD would transform into a hub of activity during the tournament.