Sevens revellers doused late in the piece
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Emailyour sevens photos to editorial@stuff.co.nz
Earlier, 10 party animals had to make a quick stop downtown to replenish the drinking fund.
The 10 friends, dressed as big cats with their faces painted and signs on their backs reading Tite like a Tiger, lined up at a cash machine on Lambton Quay yesterday morning before joining about 35,000 others at Westpac Stadium.
The warm weather during the day did not dissuade those eager to dress up in sweltering outfits. Paul Tietjens, 19-year-old son of New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, squeezed into a Banana in Pyjamas outfit.
Paul Sinclair, Dave Brock and Anton Cummings sacrificed their beloved flat couch. With no costumes on Thursday, the trio stayed up into the early hours of yesterday ripping apart - then sewing back together - their sofa.
It was more like panic mode - we had nothing else to wear, Mr Cummings said. Were in the market for a new couch now.
About midday, two Barbies stood at the sushi counter in New World Metro at Wellington railway station. Fairies with tattoos waved the New Zealand flag.
At the edge of the concourse, Nizzys Nibblers from Christchurch - a troop of 21 people dressed in SAS combat gear - were stripped of their plastic guns under strict new rules banning fake weapons. Other rules have banned lewd costumes and there was not a Borat-style mankini in sight.
Meanwhile, police are crediting rain which strafed Wellington as New Zealand battled Samoa in the last match of the days play with keeping late night trouble from sevens revellers to a minimum.
Inspector Kevin Riordan said only 27 people were arrested in central Wellington between 10.30pm yesterday and 7am today, and only a handful of those had been to the sevens.
He believed heavy rain towards the end of last nights play could have put many off heading into central city nightspots.
The mood in the city after the rugby was pretty good and most people headed home early, Mr Riordan said.
We had a very visible police presence in the city overnight and this helped keep any incidents in check.
Earlier in the day, 18 people were arrested at Westpac Stadium for disorder, alcohol and trespass, and 48 others evicted from the stadium.
Alcohol-fuelled behaviour, both at the stadium today and in the city afterwards, will not be tolerated, Mr Riordan said.
People should limit their alcohol intake and look after their friends.
It doesnt matter where you are. If you drink too much you become vulnerable to crime %26ndash; either as a victim or an offender, he said.
Wellington has a great reputation has a fun and safe city and we want to make sure it stays that way.
- with NZPA
