MEDIA ADVISORY
8 September 2011

Get down to opening celebrations at the fanzone

Wellington rugby fans are being encouraged to head down to the Rugby Village FANZONE by the Wharewaka this Friday night (9 September) to take part in opening night celebrations for the seventh Rugby World Cup.

Free pre-match entertainment will kick off at 4.30pm with crowd favourites the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra and Batucada performing. There will also be an MC, spot prizes and countdown to the opening ceremony in Auckland which will be live on the big screen at 7pm, followed by the New Zealand v Tonga match.

A marquee, with a licensed bar area, will be open until 10pm in the evening so people can drop in, have a drink, sample some of the food on offer and soak up the atmosphere.

Live coverage of the match and opening ceremony will also take place in the Town Hall along with family-friendly music and entertainment.

Schedule: Friday 9 September
Rugby Village FANZONE
4.30–6pm Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra
6pm Batucada
6.20pm Makatu’unga ‘Ofa Tongan Community performance
6.50pm Kapa Haka performance (Port Nicholson Trust)
7–8pm Live coverage of Opening Ceremony (Auckland) on big screen
8.30–10pm Live coverage of New Zealand vs Tonga (Auckland) on big screen
10pm Game finishes, venue closes

Town Hall
5–6pm NZ School of Music Big Band
7–8pm Live coverage of Opening Ceremony (Auckland) on big screen
8.30pm Live coverage of New Zealand vs Tonga (Auckland) on big screen
9.10pm Kapa Haka half time performance (Ngā Maioha o Te Rangikauia)
10pm Game finishes, venue closes

People can find out more about what is happening during the month-long Festival of Carnivale by checking out wellington.govt.nz/services/events/rwc/rwcfestival.html for daily listings, by picking up an event guide from around town, or from the eye-catching red information beacons which are dotted around the central city.

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