Christchurch booked out for weekend

STACY SQUIRES/The Press

STAMP OF APPROVAL: Papanui Primary School year five pupil Quinn Carson, All Blacks Kieran Read and Liam Messam sport new New Zealand Post stamps.

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Christchurch accommodation is booked out this weekend as visitors head to the city for Saturday's All Blacks-Wallabies rugby test.

Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince said accommodation was fully booked for Friday and Saturday, with an influx of Australians expected.

Prince said the Bledisloe Cup game at AMI Stadium was a chance for tourists to get a feel for the city before next year's Rugby World Cup.

All Blacks Liam Messam, Cory Jane and Kieran Read yesterday gave a stamp of approval to 10 Christchurch children at a New Zealand Post presentation.

The Papanui Primary School pupils presented letters of support to the All Blacks as part of a promotion for a new All Blacks postage stamp.

After reading the letters, the All Blacks put them in envelopes and affixed the new stamps.

Year 5 pupil Quinn Carson, 9, said it was fun to meet the All Blacks.

"They're cool. They have good sportsmanship and they play really well."

He said his father was an Australian and "sort of" supported the Wallabies.

Quinn said he would be cheering on the All Blacks when he went to the game.

Hundreds of Cantabrians showed their support at two All Blacks signing sessions.

Mitchell Redman, 10, and Scott Redman, 7, were among those who stood in line for autographs from four All Blacks and a photograph with hooker Corey Flynn. The brothers said they liked the All Blacks because they were "a good team who win a lot of games".

BLACKOUT CALL FOR CENTRAL CITY

Christchurch businesses are being encouraged to black out the central city before the All Blacks-Wallabies Bledisloe Cup rugby test at AMI Stadium on Saturday night.

The Christchurch City Council is running a Paint It All Black competition for inner-city businesses and stores, asking staff to dress up and decorate their buildings to support the All Blacks.

Cathedral Square i-SITE Visitor Centre staff are among those getting into the spirit.

Staff are wearing black clothing and silver fern face tattoos, while visitors can win a bag of black jelly beans if they can name an All Black.

Entries for the competition will close at noon on Friday, with the winner announced that afternoon. Entry forms can be downloaded at paintitallblack.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News