BLOG: The Rugby World Cup was a truly amazing showing of national unity, despite that fact that the actual New Zealand flag was barely sighted. Indeed, it showed that New Zealand needs a new flag. When fans dress up and businesses and hospitals decorated themselves they did it in black. This is not just because [...]

First Thursdays, a collaborative art, craft and dance event on Auckland’s K’Rd recently had its most popular event to date, with more than 4,000 people in attendance. The not-for-profit event was given a grant from the government for the Rugby World Cup 2011 to get more people involved and increase publicity. Last Thursday night the [...]

As Auckland’s public transport continues to grab negative headlines the rental car sector is experiencing a boom. After the significant transport issues of opening night, there has been a flood of tourists turning to rental cars. From the kick off of the Rugby World Cup $2.1m more than usual has been spent on rentals by [...]

The Rugby World Cup has had little effect on the café scene in Auckland’s suburbs, according to September’s sales results. Cafés outside central Auckland have not reported the high number of tourists they were expecting. Peter Jones, owner of ice cream company Village Co-op in St Heliers, says the store has sold no more this [...]

Auckland’s National Women’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is home to the All Blacks’ youngest fans. Dressed up for every All Blacks game, each baby wears black hats and booties, all knitted by a dedicated group of volunteers. The team at NICU supports the All Blacks and the Rugby World Cup covering the unit with [...]

It is already unusual seeing shipping containers plonked in Myers Park. But the out-of-shape shrink wrap construction on top seem especially odd. But on Eden Park game days during the Rugby World Cup, these follies open up and unfold an experimental and artistic landscape, a project called Jack-in-a-Box. Onehundred-sixty architecture, music and dance students from [...]

While some people are shifting out of their homes to capitalise on the Rugby World Cup, the city’s homeless are being forced from their regular doorways and bus shelters as Auckland Council tries to keep them away from the tourists. The council says it has made arrangements to provide additional support to the homeless during [...]

New Zealand slouches in a squashy armchair, the smell of chip-fat lurking in the air. A few drops of beer have escaped the nation’s cavernous maw, and meat-pie wrappers litter the ground. The TV flickers in the background: Richard Kahui soaring over the try-line at Eden Park. A beautiful juxtaposition of sport and sloth. The [...]

With the Rugby World Cup in full swing, people from all over the world have been tucking into some classic Kiwi food. It is estimated that about seven million pies and sausages will be eaten throughout the cup, so we sent Te Waha Nui’s Nicola Abercrombie down to Party Central to see if the fans [...]