The Government and Auckland city today announced further details of plans to deliver the nation’s premier Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) Fanzone, festival and showcase experience on Queens Wharf in Auckland.

RWC 2011 Minister Murray McCully and Auckland Mayor Len Brown today gave media a preview of Queens Wharf preparations including a tour of The Cloud, due for completion in July.

“The construction work on the wharf is nearing completion, on time and within budget.  We can now start to give a better idea of how we will make use of this facility” said Mr McCully.

“Queens Wharf will be open every day of RWC 2011 with free access. New Zealanders and visitors will be able to watch the rugby on big screens, enjoy free concerts by top kiwi bands and view displays of New Zealand’s creativity, innovation and ingenuity,” he said.

Highlights for the Queens Wharf programme confirmed today include:
*  An official RWC 2011 Fanzone which will screen all 48 matches live on multiple big screens.
*  The homecoming of Tourism New Zealand’s Giant Rugby Ball – with free admission.
*  A series of events in The Cloud showcasing the best of New Zealand business and industry ingenuity and innovation.
*  A series of live concerts by popular bands and musicians.

Queens Wharf will be the event hub of the REAL New Zealand Festival and live music will be one of the features of the entertainment programme. Bands confirmed include Opshop, The Feelers, The Black Seeds, Katchafire, Don McGlashan, Greg Johnson, Bella Kalolo, Moana and the Tribe, Tami Neilson and I Am Giant.

“The Giant Rugby Ball is also a welcome addition. It has been around the globe on tourism promotions in London, Paris, Tokyo and Sydney. It has always received good feedback and now New Zealanders will be able to enjoy the display during RWC 2011,” said Mr McCully.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown says Aucklanders and visitors alike should plan to make Queens Wharf the centre of their RWC 2011 plans.

“Queens Wharf will be the country’s biggest official Fanzone and the best place in New Zealand to watch the matches live on screen,” Len Brown said.

The Queens Wharf entertainment programme will be focused around weekends during pool play and the programme intensifies during the school holidays, with special events from the quarter-finals to the Final weekend.
The full programme for Queens Wharf and The Cloud will be announced in August.