Auckland turns it on for the first test match

Auckland turns it on for the first test match

MEDIA RELEASE

21 June 2017

Auckland turns it on for the first test

Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone, West Rugby Fanzone and the Fan Trail ready to go, complete with appearances from rugby greats
SUMMARY

• Dan Carter is among the former players appearing at the Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone in the lead up to the first test of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series.

• The players will be chatting to MCs Melodie Robinson (Thursday 22 June) and James McOnie (Friday 23 June).

• Queens Wharf is the Auckland hub for the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 and the nationwide Rugby 2017 Festival, with live match screenings, free entertainment, live performances, exhibitions and family-friendly activities, and food and drink for sale.

• Fans can watch Saturday’s test match live on the big screen at Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone or West Rugby Fanzone at The Trusts Arena in Henderson.

• Auckland’s Fan Trail, from Queens Wharf to Eden Park, will be full of live entertainment and fun activities from 4pm on Saturday.

Auckland is gearing up for the first test of the DHL New Zealand Lions Series, with fanzones and the Fan Trail ready to go and great opportunities for Aucklanders and visitors alike, ticket-holders or not, to mix with other fans and join in the excitement of the Series.

Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone opens at 3pm on Thursday, 22 June, with a weekend-long programme of entertainment, activities, with live and classic match screenings.

On Thursday night, from 6.30pm, journalist and former Black Fern Melodie Robinson MCs the evening’s entertainment and chats to Bryn Gatland and Sam Anderson-Heather. The following night Dan Carter will be in the zone, chatting to sports reporter and broadcaster James McOnie about his career highlight of the second 2005 All Blacks v The British & Irish Lions test, followed by a screening of the match.

On Friday, from 8am–3pm, some of New Zealand’s most talented young rugby players will be competing in the adidas DFYAKL Tournament, designed to empower the next generation of rugby players and celebrate young up-and-coming talent. Twelve teams of three players will battle it out against each other in 12-minute games in a re-formulated game of touch rugby. There will be a brief appearance by some of the All Blacks at 10.30am.

On Saturday night, fans can catch the first test live on big screens at the Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone, or the West Rugby Fanzone at The Trusts Arena in Henderson. Both fanzones will have free entertainment and fun activities, and food and drink for sale.

Every day Queens Wharf Rugby Fanzone is open there will be roving entertainment, giant rugby inflatables in the family zone, the Peter Bush ‘Hard on the Heels’ rugby photography exhibition and a chance to see eight legendary trophies from the New Zealand Rugby trophy cabinet on show in the DHL Dome.

Fans travelling to the match can take Auckland’s famous Fan Trail, a 4.2km walking route from Queens Wharf to Eden Park filled with free entertainment and fun activities, with street performers including fire dancers and circus performers, drag artistes, Celtic and samba drummers, live music and face painting.

Top tips for catching the action at the fanzones:

• If you enjoy hustle and bustle, and like the buzz of a crowd, Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone is for you. If you want to avoid coming into the city centre and prefer smaller crowds, head to the West Rugby Fanzone at The Trusts Arena in Henderson. Both will have live screenings of the test match, free activities like face-painting and giant inflatables, and food and drink for sale.

• Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone is smokefree, apart from a small area.

• Both Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone and West Rugby Fanzone, at The Trusts Arena, Henderson, have alcohol-free areas and licensed areas. Please don’t bring alcohol with you, and note that intoxicated people will be asked to leave.

• Forget the hassle of parking and come by bus, train, on foot or bicycle. Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone is close to the Britomart Train Station and downtown bus stops, while Quay St will be closed between Albert and Commerce Streets from 3pm.

• Kids can have a go at Matariki arts and crafts at West Rugby Fanzone, get their faces painted or play on giant inflatables.

• Fans visiting the Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone can also check out stunning historic rugby photographs in the Hard on the Heelsexhibition by New Zealand’s leading rugby photographer Peter Bush; and the DHL Dome displaying a selection of NZ Rugby trophies.

• For more information about Auckland’s Fanzones, go to www.aucklandnz.com/fanzone. For more information about everything in the Rugby 2017 Festival, go to rugby2017festival.com.

Travelling to the game:

• Travel on trains and special events buses is included with pre-purchased game tickets and starts four hours (for trains) and approximately three hours (for special events buses) before kick-off and finishes when services end that evening.

• Or walk the Auckland Fan Trail from Queens Wharf to Eden Park. Allow a couple of hours to walk the Fan Trail to make the most of the free entertainment, fun activities and food, water and coffee giveaways. If you don’t fancy the whole route, the corner of Ponsonby and Great North Roads is a popular starting point.

• This is Auckland – the weather is changeable – bring a raincoat and extra warm layers, grab a free coffee or plastic poncho on the Fan Trail.

• For more information about the Auckland Fan Trail, go to www.aucklandnz.com/fantrail and for more information about taking public transport to the game, go to www.at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/events/dhl-new-zealand-lions-series-2017/

What’s on:

Thursday, 22 June

3-11pm Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone, with entertainment and family-friendly activities. From 6.30-9.30pm MC Melodie Robinson chats to Bryn Gatland and Sam Anderson-Heather ahead of a re-screening of the first test of the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour.

5- 10pm Celebrate the Māori New Year at Matariki Festival’s premier food and entertainment event, Te Korakora on Federal, a celebration of street kai with art, music, dancing and the flavours of Te Ao Māori.

Friday, 23 June

8am – 11pm Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone, including Dan Carter talking to MC James McOnie from 6-7pm, and a re-screening of the 2005 second test from 7.30-9.30pm.

8am – 3pm adidas DFYAKL Tournament at the Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone, where young people from around Auckland will compete in 12 teams of three players. They will battle it out against each other in 12-minute games in a re-formulated game of touch rugby designed to empower the next generation of rugby players and celebrate young up-and-coming talent. Some of the All Blacks will be present at 10.30am.

Saturday, 24 June

11am – 11pm Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone, with street entertainment, family-friendly activities, and the first DHL New Zealand Lions Series test match live on the big screen.

4-7.35pm Auckland Fan Trail, 4.2km walking route from Queens Wharf to Eden Park, filled with free entertainment and fun activities.

6-10pm West Rugby Fanzone, The Trusts Arena, Henderson, the first DHL New Zealand Lions Series test match live on the big screen and family-friendly activities.

(3pm onwards Quay St will be closed between Albert and Commerce Streets)

Sunday, 25 June

11-5pm Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone, with free entertainment including the Welsh Male Choir and local choirs (2-4pm).

*CLOSED* Please note that Queens Wharf Auckland Fanzone will be closed on Monday, 26 June, Wednesday, 28 June, Thursday, 29 June,Monday, 3 July, Tuesday, 4 July and Wednesday 5 July. The Fanzone will be open again on Tuesday, 27 June for the Hurricanes v The British & Irish Lions match.

ends

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