Full-on sun pulls crowds for chocker events weekend

Leniel Machado and Wilson Santos party for Brazilian Day.

Tens of thousands took advantage of the sun during another event-filled Auckland weekend.

The city's first ICC Cricket World Cup fixture attracted a sell-out 40,000-plus crowd to Eden Park, while thousands of others packed fanzones to watch the Black Caps beat Australia.

A 4.4km fan trail starting at Britomart with banners, flags and bunting, and a parade of fans led by the Royal New Zealand Navy band added to the party feel.

There was a real buzz on the waterfront and in the Volvo Ocean Race Village as harbour racing featured in the competition's City of Sails stopover.

At Albert Park, massive crowds packed the Auckland Lantern Festival, part of the city's Chinese New Year and Year of the Sheep celebrations.

A haka marks the Treaty of Waitangi signing 175 years ago at St Heliers. Photo / Jason Dorday

"The show truly doesn't stop for Auckland ... and this massive weekend is the first of two in coming weeks," Mayor Len Brown said.

Away from the central city, crowds gathered at Rocket Park, Mt Albert, for South American music and food at the Brazilian Day Festival yesterday. An Akasamba band and Brazilian entertainers Bobby Brazuca, Braza Jam and the Brazilian Divas kept people dancing to the samba beat.

In Panmure, a festive crowd was at the Imperial Palace Events Centre on Saturday night for the Malaysian Society's Chinese New Year function.

Maori dignitaries and Auckland Council chief executive Stephen Town were brought ashore on a waka at Karaka Bay in St Heliers yesterday afternoon to commemorate the 175th anniversary of local chiefs signing the Treaty of Waitangi at the bay on March 4, 1840.

The sunshine will continue for Auckland until at least Wednesday.

Auckland weather

Today: Fine. Cloud increasing in the evening, northeast breezes. 26C high, 19C low.
Tomorrow: Cloudy periods, humid northeasterlies. 25C high, 18C low.
Wed: Cloudy periods with humid northeasterlies. 25C high, 19C low.
(source: MetService).