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The 2011 NZI Wellington Sevens

Beware, photo overload follows.

Friday and Saturday were spent at the Wellington Seven’s tournament, a sporting event that is really just an excuse for a huge costume party. Keryn and I are generally far too reserved for dressing up (unless we’re on holiday with like minded people) so it was just as well we were going with four others who were both more willing and better organised than ourselves.

Travis and Sophie ended up buying most of the costumes which you’ll see later on. Any reservations I had about heading into down dressed up as a colourful yet clinched Hawaiian were thrown out the window at Mana station where we caught our train in to the city, a bunch of Tui boys and two tennis players the start of what turned out to be a weekend of costume invention.

We arrived at Wellington Station and headed out the front to catch the end of the Sevens fashion parade, and the photos started being taken. It was then on to the stadium concourse where we stopped for a while to watch and photograph the people walking by.

MG 6363Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Straight away the tone for the day is set.

MG 6427Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Pohutukawa girls on the catwalk.

MG 6461-2Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Hmm, the costumes often bordered on the strange.

MG 6472Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Plenty of beautiful people.

MG 6481Photo by Brendon & Keryn

One line from a foosball table.

MG 6494Photo by Brendon & Keryn

There were kids as well.

MG 6504Photo by Brendon & Keryn

And gingerbread men.

MG 6534Photo by Brendon & Keryn

An array of characters.

MG 6546Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Often referencing culture, some Black Swans.

MG 6562Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Everyone watching.

Inside the stadium there were plenty of things to keep people entertained outside of the sport and the people watching. There were AirNZ staff giving out necklaces of beads for kisses (and plenty of people, usually guys, going around exchanging beads for more kisses), a few action events including dodge-ball and giant hamster wheels. Of course there were plenty of places to buy food and drink. I had thought that wandering around inside the stadium would be the way to get good photos of all the people but in the end it was much simpler to stay in one spot most of the time at our seats and watch people from there.

MG 6520Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Beads.

MG 6574Photo by Brendon & Keryn

The flash runs on the wheel.

MG 6581-2Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Still early, the games on the pitch have started.

We watched people, wandered a little, talked, ate, drank, cheered and occasionally watched some rugby. This was pretty much the recipe for the next day and a half. Keryn, Lydia and Will arrived in the evening after work on the first day and we we all arrived within a half hour of each other on the Saturday. New Zealand won the rugby tournament which put everyone into a great mood. We also caught up with Marty and Bevan who we used to work with all those years ago at the Warehouse. The rest, you can just look at the photos.

MG 6626Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Each team had a set of cheerleaders who were in a public vote to win $7000. We were sat in the Canadian section.

MG 6631Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Next door were the Kenyan supporters.

MG 6724Photo by Brendon & Keryn

It’s a pity there wasn’t an Italian team.

MG 6731Photo by Brendon & Keryn

The New Zealand cheerleaders (and many others) were dressed as Crazy Horse gang members from the movie Boy.

MG 6736Photo by Brendon & Keryn

As you’d expect people were largely happy to have their photo taken.

MG 6778Photo by Brendon & Keryn

The rugby wasn’t all going NZs way on the first day, but they still won all their games.

MG 6786Photo by Brendon & Keryn

The crowd gets enthused.

MG 6801Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Taking a call.

MG 6826Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Happy.

MG 6886Photo by Brendon & Keryn

It’s not every day you see Wolverine talking to Zorro and his missus.

MG 6838Photo by Brendon & Keryn

They’re not talking about food.

MG 6920Photo by Brendon & Keryn

A troll needs his club.

MG 6970Photo by Brendon & Keryn

The Argentinian team took a shine to one of their cheerleaders during the parade of nations.

MG 6991Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Cheerleaders during the parade of nations.

MG 7026Photo by Brendon & Keryn

There we are ready to go in for day two.

MG 7090Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Supporting team England.

MG 7099Photo by Brendon & Keryn

My favourite costume.

MG 7136Photo by Brendon & Keryn

The lads and a friend.

MG 7166Photo by Brendon & Keryn

A costumed relay race that was hilarious.

MG 7240Photo by Brendon & Keryn

I think she had lost her casino friends.

MG 7337-2Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Bevan, Lydia and Marty.

MG 7448Photo by Brendon & Keryn

The England team head in to get their runners up medals.

MG 7465Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Celebrating victory.

MG 7550-2Photo by Brendon & Keryn

Seven hakas were performed to thank the crowd.

There are plenty of photos on Flickr, you can check out our here: 2011 Wellington Sevens photos on Flickr, or click through the gallery below:

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