‘Definitely buzzing’: All Blacks test brings Christchurch to life

Sunday, 5 July 2026

French fans celebrate a try during the France v All Blacks rugby test, the first international match held at Christchurch’s One NZ Stadium.

A sell-out crowd at One New Zealand Stadium brought Christchurch to life over the weekend, the stadium’s first international match creating a buzzing family atmosphere and record-breaking nights for city-centre restaurants.

The All Blacks’ first test in Christchurch in four years on Saturday night ended in a narrow victory against France, with the stadium packed with nearly 30,000 spectators for the first time, thanks to an extra 5000 temporary seats installed for the occasion.

Hamish McIntyre and Ceci Romo had been to the new stadium before for a Super Rugby fixture. But they told The Press they wanted their boys – Felix, 10, and Alejo, 8 – to be there for its first All Blacks game.

Ceci Romo (left), her sons Alejo, 8, and Felix, 10, and her husband, Hamish McIntyre, enjoy the atmosphere during the test match between the All Blacks and France.

“That was, I think, a big thing that we thought would be like a core memory for the boys growing up here at Christchurch, to be able to say ‘I was at the first game the All Blacks ever played at the new stadium’,” Romo said.

The close match had them “on the edge of our seat”.

“It had us all sweating. I think we were all a little bit worried at one point,” she said. “Some of us can barely talk [this morning]. Hamish has lost his voice, pretty much.”

All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor leads the haka under the roof at a packed One NZ Stadium, its capacity boosted by the addition of 5000 temporary seats.

Romo said the city was “definitely buzzing”.

“The boys were stoked. They got to meet a few former All Blacks outside Riverside Market, and the littlest one, Alejo, got to make a sign to take with us… It was a good family atmosphere,” she said.

The excitement around the central city translated into record-breaking success for some bars and restaurants.

Restaurateur David Warring’s Oxford Terrace restaurants broke their personal records over the weekend.

Restaurateur David Warring, whose restaurants include King of Snake, Roca, and Hugo on Oxford Terrace, all broke personal records on Saturday, he said.

“It was huge. I think we had over 600 guests dine with us at King of Snake in a single day.”

Among its many patrons was All Blacks great Richie McCaw, while former coach Sir Graham Henry visited Hugo.

French fans show support for their team outside One NZ Stadium before the match.

On the actual night of the test he had a big function of touring rugby fans who booked the private venue space at Botanic for pre-game drinks and canapés.

“[They] then had it booked for after the match as well, and they went through to the late hours of the night.”

Warring said he was “incredibly proud of the team”, who had all worked extremely hard.

France fan Fanny Laine and her All Blacks-loving husband Michael Banks face off in front of One New Zealand Stadium prior to the match.

But he said the whole town had been “abuzz” for much of the week, and he’d noticed a serious increase in business even beyond Roca and Hugo’s Michelin Guide mentions.

Warring said the stadium had been great for the city.

“[Both] the impact that it has on local business and the community and that sense of pride in the city, but also the way it presents on television. It's a real class act.

“I think it's really raising the Christchurch brand and flying the flag.”

Venues Ōtautahi chief executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said they were “incredibly pleased” with how the first All Blacks test at the stadium went.

“We always knew the first international would be a special night and every moment met our expectations … right through to the nail-biting final seconds.”

Watching the central city “come to life” with fans from both nations reiterated how lucky Christchurch was to have its new stadium at its heart, she said.

“It was wonderful to see the passion of the French fans outside the stadium singing, chanting, and dancing. It really lifted the occasion.

“Standing outside the venue during the period when the All Blacks and French buses pulled up on Madras Street was an event worth attending in its own right.”

While the final figures are yet to roll in, Venues Ōtautahi estimated visitation alone brought $8 million into the city. About 32% of ticket-buyers were from outside Canterbury, meaning the true spend by fans was likely much higher.

An estimated 100,000 beverages and 25,000 items of food were purchased within the stadium itself, while Harvie-Teare said a night market held at its northern end also had “a great energy”.