All Black parade: Earlier Start, Street Closures and Media Accreditation
Tuesday 25 October 2011, 6:19PM
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Central Wellington is likely to come to a standstill when the victorious All Blacks parade from Civic Square to Parliament just after midday tomorrow.
The start of the parade has been brought forward to 12.15pm.
Media accreditation
Media representatives seeking to cover the parade are asked to bring RWC 2011 or other media accreditation.
Notes on street closures - 10.00am to 2.00pm
Motorists and delivery people should note the following closures:
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Mercer Street
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Willis Street north from the Manners Street intersection
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all of Lambton Quay
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Traffic travelling south on Victoria Street will be diverted down Harris Street
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Customhouse Quay between Willis and Hunter streets
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Traffic will also not be able to use side streets off the parade as "through routes".
Wellington City Council's Rugby World Cup and City Events Director, Derek Fry, says the big message to motorists is to avoid the central business district from about 10.00am till 2.00pm tomorrow. "We're expecting the central city to be bursting at the seams with All Blacks fans.
"If you want to get across town, the best bet is to take the motorway or stick to the waterfront."
Mr Fry adds that temporary crowd-control barriers will have to be erected along the parade route - so the streets will be closed from 10.00am. His advice to delivery people is to get in before 10.00am.
Bus route changes - 10.00am to 2.00pm
Northbound buses will be diverted along Wakefield Street and Jervois, Customhouse and Waterloo quays and into Bunny Street by the Railway Station.
Southbound buses will take Thorndon Quay, Featherston and Whitmore streets before heading along the waterfront quays and Cable Street, then Taranaki Street before returning to the normal route on Courtenay Place.
On the parade route
Mr Fry urges All Black fans to take their places early along the parade route - and let the kids get to the front.
"We're expecting this to be one of the biggest parades ever in the city and there'll be big crowds right along the parade route - so if the adults can stand back and let the youngsters get up close then that'll add to what's sure to be a huge event."
While the Rugby World Cup 2011 winners will be the main drawcard, the parade will also feature Wellington's RWC 2011 volunteers, the Wellington Batucada, The City of Wellington Pipe Band and the RNZAF Central Band.