City shops get on side for sevens showdown

Columbus Coffee manager Wonja Pene (left) with Mandeep Kaur are showing their support for Bay of Plenty alongside 25 other Rotorua retailers getting behind the Bayleys National Sevens tournament. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Bayleys National Sevens is fast approaching and Rotorua businesses are getting into the spirit of the competition.

Twenty-six retailers have adopted a sevens team and will be showing their support with bunting, signs and decorations.

Event organiser Allison Stewart said next weekend's two-day competition was an event that could involve the whole city.

"It can be really big for Rotorua, obviously the games will be at the stadium, but we're thrilled with the enthusiasm of the businesses involved.

"From a retail perspective the period after Christmas can be a funny, weird time so it can also be used as a bit of a promotion.

"On the other side of it too, is that we have teams who are from Horowhenua, Kapiti, Wairarapa Bush, how cool is it for them to travel all the way up here and see the support."

Barracking for the Bay of Plenty men's team was Columbus Coffee in the Rotorua Central Mall and the store sported yellow and blue bunting yesterday.

"We were stoked to have the Bay of Plenty and I think being involved is good for Rotorua especially with everyone travelling here. It's good to see businesses getting behind it," manager Wonja Pene said.

"We'll be putting some balloons up and paint our window, maybe put up a big banner in support."

The Bayleys National Sevens will be held at the Rotorua International Stadium from January 17-18. Matches start on Saturday, January 10, at 9am. Tickets for adults cost $5, while entry is free for children under 14. Tickets are available from the Rotorua Convention Centre and Ticketmaster.

Retail support:

Mens teams:
Pollards Menswear, Northland
Super Fern Furniture, Wellington
Creative Yarn, Tasman
Be Rude Not To Cafe, Canterbury
Multi-Day Adventures, Mid Canterbury
Designer Direct, South Canterbury
Crazy Buffalo, Otago
Jazzed, Auckland
Maori Pop-up Store, North harbour
Life Pharmacy, Counties Manukau
Moe's Bar, Waikato
Columbus Coffee, Bay of Plenty
MusicWorks, Taranaki
Hennessey's Bar, Manawatu
Instant Finance, Wairarapa Bush
Atticus Finch, Horowhenua Kapiti

Women's teams:
Envy Shoes, Wellington
Collectors Centre, Canterbury
Parrots on Hinemoa, Otago
Finns Fashion, Southland
Denim Zone, Auckland
Lakes Care Pharmacy, Waikato
Mr Rental, Counties Manukau
Nova, Bay of Plenty
Take a Look, Taranaki
Leonardo's, Manawatu