Rugby World Cup: Roll up and join party

Rotorua businesses are coming to the party for the Rugby World Cup, but the invitation to get involved with hosted events is still open.
Bay of Plenty NZ2011 Business Club co-ordinator Sandra Kai Fong told The Daily Post there was a good range of activities, tours and events planned, but she wanted to hear from more businesses and individuals keen to make international connections with visitors coming to New Zealand for the rugby tournament.
"People think there is still plenty of time to get things organised, but there isn't," she said.
With just 118 days before kick off, Kai Fong is urging people to get in touch with her to talk about what they can do and to register events with the Business Club, which was set up to put visiting business people in touch with locals in the same sector or with similar interests.
"It does not have to cost you a lot of money. It can be something you would be doing anyway and just make a little bit different."
The Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, for instance, is running several BA5 networking events during the cup period and will make tickets at the Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards available for international guests.
Red Stag, Peterson Sawmills and Rotorua International Airport are offering guided tours of their operations, giving visitors a "behind the scenes" look at how Kiwis do things.
Other individuals and groups are offering a personalised look at the city and how New Zealanders live.
Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters will conduct a tour of Rotorua Museum and take guests mountainbiking, district council chief executive Peter Guerin and business consultant Margriet Theron will each host a dinner and former mayor Grahame Hall will lead historic city walking tours.
"People's most memorable experiences are of the people they meet and get to know," said Kai Fong. "This is about making connections that people will take back home with them."
Registering with the Business Club is free for events that qualify as "hosted". This means the visitors are greeted and accompanied by a local person. Kai Fong stressed organisers did not have to provide catering - just an experience people could not get as a regular tourist.
More organisations and individuals around the region are also planning visits and events, including local rugby clubs, and she has also been talking to retailers about window dressing and other ways to be part of the Rugby World Cup event.
Anybody wishing to get involved should contact Kai Fong at sandra.bop2011@gmail.com. "We can't organise the event for you but, no matter how big or small it is, we can offer free advertising to get more people along to it."