International Festivals Wellington

Start Date : 29/10/2006
End Date : 6/11/2006

News articles for the Wellington Festival

Wellington Beats Global Competition to Win Golden Oldies

Wellington has beaten off international competition for the right to host the 16th Air New Zealand World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival in October next year, it was announced today.

The festival is the biggest rugby festical in the world, and is expected to attract over 200 rugby teams and 5,000 people from over 20 countries to the capital for eight days between 29 October and 6 November 2006

The festival is expected to inject over $15 million into the Wellington economy.

The teams are expected to come from as diverse range of nations as this year's festival in San Diego - including Andorra, Czech, Portugal, Bahamas, Germany and China as well as rugby playing nations such as Australiam United Kingdom, Cnada, USA, South Africa, Argentina, Japan and Italy.

Wellington's win means the festival will return to New Zealand for the first time in 10 years. The tournament was last held in New Zealand in 1995, when 5,885 participants descended on Christchurch.

Wellington Mayor, Kerry Prendegast, said the city would pull out all the stops to make the fesitval a special week.

"We'll make this the best ever festival", she said.

"We've got a few suprises planned for our 5,00 guests - including New Zealand's biggest-ever marquee, which we're planning to erect over the Westpac Stadium pitch to host the welcome and farewell dinners."

The festival will be event-managed by the Wellington Rugby Football Union, who will coordinate games at venues around Wellington and all off field activities.

Air New Zealand World Golden Olides Festivals usually occur every two years, but in 2005 and 2006 the festivals will be in sonsecutive years as the tournament realigns itself to avoid a clash with the Rugby World Cup. The next festival after Wellington will be in 2008.

For more details on the 2006 Air New Zealand World Golden Oldies Rugby Festival, visit the International Festivals section.

Documents for the Wellington Festival