Wealthy move in on Cup

Aircraft and hotels are filling up fast. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Private jets and luxury accommodation are being snapped up as international high rollers make arrangements for next year's Rugby World Cup.

Super-rich visitors plan to fly between luxury resorts and match venues - but strong demand for high-end accommodation means some will jet in from Sydney or Fiji without staying a night in New Zealand.

With Prince William and Prince Harry among the VIPs to watch the 2007 tournament, the Cup is expected to attract celebrities, heads of state, and wealthy rugby fans.

Private and charter airline Air National said extra aircraft might be needed to cope with demand from teams, fans and corporate groups.

Charter sales manager Paul Aston said many were staying outside the main centres and flying to and from match venues on game-day.

"With prices and accommodation being at a premium they're realising they can base themselves in, say, Hamilton and go to the games from there."

He'd also given quotes for visitors to fly in from Sydney, while a group of "higher end clients" were flying to two matches from Fiji.

Prices depended on the type of aircraft, but a group of four could spend $15,000 for a return flight from Auckland to Wellington. The company flies nine aircraft, and Aston said demand so far indicated there was likely to be a shortage.

While Auckland Airport was well set-up for corporate jets, Aston said some smaller provincial airports could struggle for parking space.

Pacific Jets' Matthew Walkington said there had been strong interest from tour operators and wealthy individuals. The company operates three jets and expected to be fully booked.

"They want to, for example, base themselves in Christchurch and fly to Wellington for a quarter-final and Auckland for a semi-final and then back after the game," he said.

Most provincial airports spoken to said they would cope with the extra flights, but Stan Hansen, airports manager for Kaikohe, Kerikeri and Kaitaia, said tarmac space "could be an issue".

Luxury hotels and resorts were also receiving strong interest from wealthy rugby fans. Erin Sullivan, from the Boutique Hotels and Lodges group, said her hotels in Auckland and Christchurch had been booked for four months.

Martin Brown from accommodation directory Luxury Escapes said many Auckland hotels were fully booked, and there was unlikely to be enough rooms to meet demand.

"But what is interesting is the luxury end of the market don't seem to have increased their prices, which is good," he said.

Auckland mayor John Banks said he wasn't disappointed some super-rich were staying offshore.

"These are high net-worth people and individuals of huge influence so if they want to stay at the Hyatt in The Rocks and come into Wellington or Auckland each day, I'm relaxed about it."

He said "quite a number" of wealthy individuals were planning to visit, but "for security reasons they don't want the mayor of the host city telling the world".