With all accommodation booked out and only 5000 tickets remaining, giant flags to promote the British and Irish Lions' series will, from today, be hung in tourist spots in Whangarei.
Whangarei District Council received the first batch of 100 flags from the New Zealand Rugby Union on Friday while the other Super Rugby franchises playing the Lions will get theirs later.
The Lions kick-start their New Zealand tour on June 3 with a game against the Provincial Union XV at Toll Stadium.
Northland is the only provincial union to be awarded a game
Council's community events' coordinator, Jenny Calder, said the 1800mm by 900mm flags, designed to withstand adverse weather conditions, would be hung in places where they would be widely viewed.