Big event prompts warnings by police

Christchurch will echo to the thunder of hooves and clacking of high heels as the city hosts Cup and Show Week.

Highlights include tomorrow's Cup Day at Addington Raceway, the three-day Royal New Zealand Show starting on Wednesday and featuring the Topp Twins, and the New Zealand Cup race day at Riccarton Park on Saturday.

However, the biggest social event on Christchurch's calendar has prompted a police warning to beware of hot weather, excessive drinking and violence.

Senior Sergeant Gordon Spite said officers would take a "firm line on low-level offending".

"It is an accepted fact that dealing decisively with minor behaviour offences leads to significantly fewer serious crimes being committed," he said.

"Being drunk in town is not sexy, and my staff have a low tolerance towards bad behaviour that emanates from excessive drinking.

"Time and again we see victims of assaults who have had too much to drink and are simply an easy target for thuggery. Much is being said at the moment about responsibility in terms of alcohol consumption and I would make the comment that this applies equally to potential victims."

Spite said police numbers would be boosted this week.

Tomorrow's New Zealand Trotting Cup traditionally attracts 25,000 to Addington for the country's feature harness event, the free-flowing bubbles and high fashion.

About 11,500 tickets had been sold by last week, down about 10 per cent on last year.

On Wednesday, the Royal New Zealand Show opens at the 145-hectare Canterbury Agricultural Park.

About 120,000 people are expected at the show over the three days. Entertainment will be provided by the Topp Twins, a circus of acrobats, seminars with Gareth Morgan, a Kiwi-versus-Aussie shearing test, the world woodchopping title and a new area designed for 12 to 18-year-olds.

Each day at 1.15pm, Air New Zealand will use a helicopter to drop 1000 ping-pong balls labelled with spot prizes – with $50,000 worth of prizes to be given away.

The carnival week is sandwiched by gallops meetings at Riccarton Park. The second day, featuring the Coupland's Mile, is held on Wednesday, with the New Zealand Cup and 1000 Guineas – complemented by the Fashion in the Field contest – on Saturday.

Christchurch woman Sue Stubenvoll has found a glitch in the ticketing system for the Royal New Zealand Show, with senior citizens unable to buy discounted tickets online.

Promotional material for the show said those aged 65 and over could buy advance tickets at "last year's prices" through Ticketek – $10 rather than the $12 gate price.

However, the ticketing agency's website cannot sell tickets to senior citizens as it has no function to restrict visits to the first two show days.

Stubenvoll had wanted to buy advance tickets so her out-of-town guests did not have to queue.

"If it's hot or rainy, it would avoid elderly people having to shuffle in through mud or in hot sun," she said.

"We have this fantastic show and we're lucky to get these local perks of discounted tickets but to find out senior citizens can't get last year's prices but everyone else can is just ridiculous."

Show marketing manager Nicola Cull said Ticketek's system did not allow for ticket purchases with restricted access for Wednesday and Thursday.

Advance tickets, at this year's prices, are available from the show office at Canterbury Agricultural Park.