Newcomers are getting involved in the Rugby World Cup

Hawke's Bay will host two matches; France vs Canada on 18 September and Canada vs Japan on 27 September. Napier is one of eleven destinations within New Zealand to be awarded games so it's a pretty big deal for Hawke's Bay.

We are gearing up for Rugby World Cup 2011 celebrations between 14 and 30 September. Napier’s inner city will be divided into French, Japanese, Canadian and Kiwi quarters and decorated accordingly to welcome the public and celebrate our differences. Various free, cultural workshops, promotions and fun activities will be on offer for everyone to enjoy and participate in.

In the Kiwi Quarter there will be Haka and dancing performances, flax weaving and poi making workshops and good old fashioned sheep shearing! Our intercultural youth group will be working in this quarter as well.

The Japanese Quarter will provide authentic Japanese dancing, martial arts demonstrations, origami workshops and offer Japanese lettering (using traditional calligraphy brushes on rice paper) for those who would like their names written in Japanese. 

There will be a 'we've gone loonie' competition in the Canadian Quarter - based on the Canadian one dollar coin which Canadians refer to as a 'loonie' because it has a loon (a well known Canadian bird) on one side. Entries will be posted inside a redwood log cabin which is being built and designed specially for RWC by Easy Bach, to resemble a Canadian cabin.

The French Quarter's celebrations will include a display of French Vintage cars and 'Vin d' honneur' which translated means 'taste the regions wines' with a variety of local wineries offering tastings in selected stores. The majority of the activities will be organised around the weekends. For details about what else is happening in Napier and the region click here.