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Giant Rugby World Cup Ball - Source: Photosport
The giant rugby ball promoting New Zealand tourism through next year's Rugby World Cup is making its final stop before heading home.
After stints in Paris, London and Tokyo, the promotional ball is now sitting fully inflated on Sydney's striking waterfront.
The ball was welcomed into Sydney by aborigine and Maori performers.
Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples said the opening ceremony was "amazing".
"What's so magnificent about it, is that they did their traditional welcome and invited the Maori to take over the Pi Pi and welcome the Australian delegation after the Maori people did it," Sharples said.
Football-shaped lamingtons and an audio visual experience were also part of the display, to try to entice Australian rugby fans to next year's World Cup.
While the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup has been an unpalatable experience for Wallabies supporters, World Cup organisers and Tourism New Zealand still hope our nearest neighbours will visit en masse when the tournament starts next September.
The 25m long and 13m high promotional vehicle will be in place until Sunday week, the day after the third Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and Wallabies in Sydney. Up to 20,000 people are expected to visit it and get a free taste of New Zealand.
Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden said all efforts to create the "best" World Cup would be made.
He said the importance of the Australian market in terms of generating World Cup revenue cannot be understated.
Although New Zealand was already a popular tourist destination for Australians it was vital to emphasise the tournament - won twice by the Wallabies - was only 12 months away.
"It sends a really clear signal to Aussies that it's not that far away now. We want them to think about the rugby and to have a look around New Zealand."
Of the estimated 85,000 inbound visitors, about 30,000 are expected to be Australians.
