Mayors and councillors of cities and towns which have won hosting status for teams playing in the 2011 Rugby World Cup have quickly seized on the marketing and economic rewards they should gain.
The PR machines went into overdrive after Rugby NZ 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden announced yesterday 16 centres in the North Island and seven in the South Island would host at least one team for a period of time during the tournament.
"USA rugby hosting fantastic for Wanganui," roared the media statement from Mayor Michael Laws' office, with predictably no letter h in Wanganui.
"Wellington welcomes its RWC 2011 host teams and their fans," said a decidedly eager Wellington City Council, while its counterpart further south offered a tamer "Christchurch to host top rugby teams."
The delight was real in Taupo, with a press release claiming a hat-trick of teams for the tourism resort.
"Other cities got games, which is nice, but we've got three whole teams staying with us, who will bring coaches, managers, physios, doctors, partners and family with them," enthused Mayor Rick Cooper.
"All of whom will of course spend money on food and lattes, go shopping, and partake in all the fun tourist activities our district offers. And then they'll all go back home and tell everyone how wonderful Taupo is."
A photo accompanied the press release showing Mr Cooper and council officials cracking open a bottle of bubbly.
Taupo will host the South African, Welsh and Irish teams at various stages of the tournament.
Nine other centres which are not hosting matches will host teams - the Bay of Islands, Gulf Harbour (north of Auckland), Tauranga, Taupo, Gisborne, Wanganui, Masterton, Blenheim, Ashburton, and Queenstown.
They join the match playing centres Whangarei, North Shore, Auckland city, Hamilton, Rotorua, Napier, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill as bases for the teams.
The teams will move around different centres during the group phases but some will spend a substantial number of days in one spot - for instance, England will be in Christchurch for 19 noisy days, if the Barmy Army accompanies the team.
The All Blacks will stay in the cities they are due to play in before their group matches: in Auckland prior to the games against Tonga and France, in Hamilton before they play an Asian qualifier (probably Japan), and in Wellington prior to their final group match against Canada.
Snedden said only two centres that wanted to host teams - Timaru and Whakatane - missed out, due to accommodation issues.
NZPA