Auckland RWC is explosive

The city is so chocka that the city central's PARTY CENTRAL is now closed as it is full up wall -to- wall with RWC fans with painted faces, flags and festivity !
Folks have been watching the Maori Wakas (canoes)
Haka and they will be watching mega fire works displays and music and then the Tonga-All Black rugby match kicks off at 8.30 pm NZ time (10.30 a.m. Friday SA time)... the opening ceremony starts in half an hour and we will be glued to the box as weren't going to head into the city ! (Oops are we getting old ? Gosh I hate being a party pooer... but ...Trains and ferries are over subscribed and the city is in grid lock !!)
About the Wakas - (Wikepedia) 
Waka (English pronunciation: /ˈwɒkə/, Maori [ˈwɒka]) are Māori watercraft, usually canoes ranging in size from small, unornamented canoes (waka tīwai) used for fishing and river travel, to large decorated war canoes (waka taua) up to 40 metres (130 ft) long. In recent years, large double-hulled canoes of considerable size have been constructed for oceanic voyaging to other parts of the Pacific Ocean.^[1]

Waka taua (war canoes)

Waka taua (war canoes) are large canoes manned by up to 80 paddlers and are up to 40 metres (130 ft)^[2] in length. Large waka, such as Nga Toki Matawhaorua^[3] which are usually elaborately carved and decorated, consist of a main hull formed from a single hollowed-out log, along with a carved upright head and tailboard. The gunwale is raised in some by a continuous plank which gives increased freeboard and prevents distortion of the main hull components when used in a rough seas. Sometimes the hull is further strengthened, as in the case of Te Winika, a 200-year-old design, by a batten or stringer running lengthwise both inside and outside the hull just above the loaded waterline.^[4][5] The resurgence of Māori culture has seen an increase in the numbers of waka taua built, generally on behalf of a tribal group, for use on ceremonial occasions.

(Getty Images)

THE HERALD - 9 September 2011 

Flags, facepaint, banners and bunting are setting the scene as the country counts down to the start of the Rugby World Cup tomorrow.

"People are doing all sorts of crazy things with the flag bunting to show how passionate and excited they are about the tournament and to offer a warm Kiwi welcome to our international guests," director of the New Zealand 2011 office Leon Grice said.

New Zealanders are flying the flag, with every string of Rugby World Cup 2011 bunting sold out.

Promoted as the party to begin all parties, festivities begin at 4pm on Auckland's city waterfront and are expected to attract tens of thousands.Queens Wharf may be "Party Central", but with a 12,000 limit people are being urged to think of other places to watch the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony."We fully expect Queens Wharf will fill to capacity, and it will fill very early on," Auckland's Rugby World Cup events organiser Rachael Dacy said.

"We're thrilled with the way New Zealanders are pulling together to make RWC 2011 a huge success for our country." 

Auckland Mayor Len Brown said the city is "absolutely ready on behalf of the country".

Other events will be happening close to Queens Wharf, while those wanting to watch the fireworks can also head to party zones at Parnell Rose Gardens and Bastion Point to the east of the city, and to Devonport waterfront and Mt Victoria on the North Shore.

"We are on full party mode already," Brown said. "It's just going to be gobsmackingly great."

The ceremony starts with a waka fleet arrival at 4pm at Viaduct Harbour.