What a balls-up! | Auckland News | Local News in Auckland

Elaine Alexander and Robyn Sussmilch caught the ferry from Beachlands to Downtown Auckland this week, excited at the idea of seeing the Cloud and Giant Rugby Ball on Queens Wharf. When they arrived about 10am they found the port's infamous red wrought-iron wharf gates closed until 11.30am, and the Ball closed all Monday.

"It's a missed opportunity," says Ms Sussmilch. Her friend agrees: "It's not very good PR."

They were among many disappointed Aucklanders and international tourists who've visited the Prime Minister's pet project - Party Central - only to find hours restricted. We watched many walking away with bemused looks on their faces.

We can tell them that - three weeks into the Rugby World Cup - organisers have seen sense. Well, a little. The Ball will now open at 10am on weekends and school holidays.

But many have paid for parking and made a considerable effort to get to the heavily promoted visitor venue since the Cup opened. For others, the morning was the only time they had available and they missed out on an experience supposed to showcase New Zealand.

Security guards explained that doors didn't open until 11.30am because deliveries had to be made.

Heather and Landon Colston, of Tauranga, were in Auckland and decided to see what all the fuss was about. "We thought we'd stay an extra day to drink up the atmosphere but we haven't got all day," Heather says. "They could have started their deliveries at 6am without being too tough on people."

Steve Carter from Cambridge, England, says the morning was the only time available to him. "It's a shame we can't look inside."

Jill and Alan Milton from our Cambridge were also unimpressed. "Tourists will be waking up very early because of the time difference and will be expecting to come down here and see things," says Jill. Adds Alan, "The rugby ball is closed on a Monday. It's stupid. It should be open every day from 9am."

Janet and Trevor of Southport, England, say every other place they visited in New Zealand was geared up for the Cup. "People staying in town want to head out between 9 and 10am," said Trevor. "If the World Cup was being held in London, deliveries would have taken place overnight."

Jim and daughter Tracey Haskell caught an early bus from Albany to avoid what they thought would be big crowds. "We would've bought a coffee but we'll have to go somewhere else now instead," Ms Haskell says.

Sara Donaghey, who leads Unitec's Bachelor of Communications course, said the Cup had beem promoted as a family event and opening times should reflect that.

"We're introducing ourselves to visitors from all over the world and Auckland is being held up as a showcase for New Zealand. Greater effort should have been made to make people aware of opening times."

Most people probably wouldn't take a lot from it, but they'd be slightly disappointed and it would take the gloss off their experience.

Queens Wharf spokesman Peter Winder said hours were set months ago based on expected demand and subject to the resource consent issued. "It is unfortunate that there are some people who have not checked opening times before deciding to come down to Queens Wharf but we maintain that times are readily communicated and widely available."

Some 400,000 had visited Queens Wharf and 30,000 people had gone through the Ball.

What you're missing

The Giant Rugby Ball stands 25m long and 12m high. Some 220 people can fit inside for a 10-minute "full-immersion" film about Kiwi life and attractions. A pukeko blown up to giant proportions pecks and cracks the screen and a dog clenches its slobbery jaws around the ball - a picture of its pink throat filling up half the dome.

Visual effects send the ball seemingly flying through the air, sinking into the earth, driving along NZ roads and being tossed between Kiwi kids - as you look out from within. The ball has toured the world to promote the Rugby World Cup, stopping off at London, Tokyo, Sydney and under the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The Cloud is a temporary, PVC and glass event venue on Queen's Wharf . It is 180m long, can host up to 6000 people and is being used to showcase the best of New Zealand innovation and creativity. The ground floor area can be split into four segments, which means the building can cater for a range of events at the same time. It was nicknamed "the slug" and displaced a historic warehouse that heritage campaigners believed should have been saved.