Rugby World Cup: Auckland's 10-hour opening party

Fireworks will light up the night sky as the Rugby World Cup tournament officially opens. Photo / Supplied

The Rugby World Cup will open with a bang as Auckland turns on a huge 12-minute fireworks show to mark the the start of the tournament.

Details of the city's plans for the big day - on September 9 - were revealed yesterday.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown told the Herald exclusively that the 10-hour opening night programme would span the Viaduct Harbour and Quay St to Queens Wharf.

It would be "the party to begin all parties", but would also be family-friendly, the Mayor said.

The programme begins at 4pm when 20 carved waka each carrying 30 people will paddle into the Viaduct Harbour.

Dave Dobbyn will serenade the return of the rugby tournament to New Zealand by singing Welcome Home.

A mass haka by the 600 waka paddlers will be followed by an 80-minute concert by the Finn Brothers on Queens Wharf.

"We will open Rugby World Cup 2011 in an unforgettable way, to make it the greatest-ever World Cup," Mr Brown said.

Big screens will line the waterfront area to show what is going on in other places, including Eden Park.

A 20-minute opening ceremony at Eden Park will lead up to the main spectacle - the 12-minute fireworks and lighting show.

Organisers said it would be New Zealand's biggest pyrotechnics display, and landmarks and tall buildings around Auckland would be used for lighting displays.

Most of the World Cup television coverage would be focused on rugby pitches, and the 12-minute window was a unique chance to showcase Auckland to the world, they said.

"In this very short space of time, we will be introducing ourselves as a true international city," Mr Brown said.

"We're going to do the country and Auckland proud."

It was a segment he was particularly looking forward to, he said.

"Like any Kiwi, I like that. There's something about us - we like the flames."

The opening whistle would also be poignant, Mr Brown said.

"That's going to be the culmination of the hard work of a lot of people, going back to Helen Clark and Tana Umaga and the pitch they put up against all the odds to get this."

Organisers said people should arrive early to the waterfront because only 50,000 would be allowed into the celebrations.

Dane Rumble and Midnight Youth will feature in post-match entertainment, finishing about 2am.

Up to 2000 volunteers and staff will be helping to run the World Cup programme.

Organisers saying anyone going to the opening game at Eden Park, kicking off at 8.30pm, should skip the waterfront celebrations and go directly to the stadium.

Mr Brown said the World Cup programme, particularly closing off Quay St for pedestrians, would become a blueprint for future events and for the waterfront.

"The greatest legacy of the Rugby World Cup is to return our waterfront to our community as a place where you socialise," he said.