Let's make visitors feel welcome for RWC

The making of the RWC 2011 will be in the people, in the way we treat our manuhiri.THE Rugby World Cup officially starts on Friday, but it's here already - you can feel it.

What a delight to have the Canada Canucks accept the invitation for a formal welcome in Waitangi.

The original plan had been to have the captains of all the teams in the RWC attend a formal welcome in Waitangi, but it sounds like it was a logistical and security nightmare.

No matter - the referees and the Canadians were happy to come, and were overwhelmed by the experience.

How refreshing it was to read Canucks' captain Pat Riordan's comments, as he noted ... "especially coming from a country that does not have such an amicable relationship with our indigenous First Nations people - their culture is not so widely represented and accepted in our mainstream culture as it is here".

What a change from the post-match speeches we have become used to, littered with "full credits" and "game of two halves".

And hard case, that Isaiah Apiata - a nephew of Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata - displayed some of his uncle's humility by saying he only got selected as part of the welcoming party because he was from the area.

And then he reckoned that he didn't really like rugby, and was - shock horror - supporting Fiji.

The making of the RWC 2011 will be in the people, in the way we treat our manuhiri.

RWC boss Martin Snedden told an intrigued gathering of journalists and newspaper executives last year that there was no flashy marketing plan for the World Cup.

He simply wanted New Zealanders to be great ambassadors for our country, and to treat our visitors with respect, and kindness.

He's right - how successful the RWC will be as an event for New Zealand will not depend on the souvenirs or rugby memories that people take away with them, but on how they judge and assess our country and people while they are here.

On that note, let's make them feel welcome.

There's one more reason for us to bebrilliant hosts - it will help ease the pain of an All Black victory!

editor@northernadvocate.co.nz