Rugby

First there were celebrity dolphins and an accident-prone kiwi. Next a cave-dweller hermit sheep, a rather forward flightless parrot and a sand-eating penguin – and now New Zealand has another animal celebrity.

On 14 July 1789 the people of Paris stormed the Bastille and now, 221 years later, the French are coming to do battle in Queenstown.

Kiwis across New Zealand are talking up their language and hospitality skills as they join in the annual Māori Language Week (4 – 10 July 2011).

The last of the tickets for Rugby World Cup 2011 have gone on sale and are going quickly as New Zealand continues to ramp up preparations for hosting the major event.

Rugby World Cup 2011 will be a chance to experience and relive New Zealand’s rich rugby heritage with a series of REAL New Zealand Festival nostalgic exhibitions and events surrounding the tournament.

Tourism New Zealand’s giant rugby ball will stand on home ground for the first time – alongside The Cloud in the heart of Auckland’s party central on Queen’s Wharf during Rugby World Cup 2011.

Teams arriving in New Zealand for Rugby World Cup 2011 will be embraced by the warmth of the local culture from the moment they arrive in their host regions.

With 85,000 international visitors in the country, Rugby World Cup will showcase New Zealand to a global audience of discerning travellers – and, away from the rugby field, it’s Kiwi food and wine that’s likely to attract the most sustained interest.

A team of All Blacks rugby legends will play a feature match against some famous old French rivals in Queenstown this September in a clash of the “classics” to celebrate New Zealand’s rugby heritage.

Hagley Park in Christchurch will become a giant fan zone and festival area during Rugby World Cup 2011 providing a central venue for rugby-mad Cantabrians and visitors keen to be part of the major event.