Queens Wharf bursts into life from 10am for the first of many family friendly weekends. Throughout the day expect colourful characters, great live music and cultural performances to entertain the entire family.

Saturday 10 September ‘Carnival’

Queens Wharf bursts into life from 10am for the first of many family friendly weekends. Throughout the day expect colourful characters, great live music and cultural performances to entertain the entire family.

Saturday 10 September ‘Carnival’

The carnival kicks off with the Brazilian rhythms of Auckland’s very own multi-cultural Samba band, AK Samba. But first, keep an eye out for New Zealand’s favourite dog Hairy Maclary and his rag-tag bunch of friends as Tim Bray Productions brings this loveable bunch of characters to Queens Wharf.

Te Hao Rangatahi o Kohukohunui Traditional Maori Welcome

10.00 -10.20am > Forecourt, Queens Wharf

Every Saturday morning until October 1, at 10am as the Wharf gates open, experience the warmth and mana of a traditional Maori welcome. Be greeted by the sounding of the putatara/conch and the welcoming call of the karanga. Be inspired by the power of a haka performed by local tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Auckland.

Gumboot throwing competition

10.00am-12.30pm > Mainstage Forecourt

Come and play with some no-nonsense down to earth Kiwi blokes. Here to make sure you have fun on Queens Wharf these Kiwi blokes see Gumboot throwing as a competitive sport, second only to rugby. They are previous winners of the Golden Gumboot at the Taihape National Competition and will be challenging visitors to Queens Wharf to compete against the best. This is serious agri-business!

Origami Workshop

10.00am-12.30pm > The Cloud

Join the New Zealand Japan Society to make a miniature origami Rugby jersey in your favourite team’s colours!

Ak Samba & Brazilian Divas

10.20-10.40am & 11.40am-12.00pm > Forecourt

AK Samba: An innovative percussion band that fuses hot Brazilian samba rhythms with other influences to create an extraordinary musical experience. Their musical style is a fusion of Brazilian styles (samba, samba-reggae, coco, baião), with drum & bass, hip-hop and other dance influences. Brazilian Divas: A sensory experience to match the fascinating sounds of AK Samba and the dances of Brazil, the Brazilian Divas are what you would expect to see in your tropical dreams! Think of exuberant colours, lively rhythms, curvy figures and warm smiles flavoured with authenticity and passion.

Free face painting

From 10.30am > The Cloud

All Star Cheerleaders

10.30-10.40am > Mainstage

11.30-11.40am > Mainstage Forecourt

All Star Cheerleading is a fun high energy combination of stunts, tosses, tumbling, dance and impressive team work. Our cheerleaders will perform sections of their competition routines which have won them numerous titles in top level cheerleading championships including the title of Grand Champions in the American Showcase Championships, Anaheim, California. This troupe of more than 100 cheerleaders will be showcasing their skills on Queens Wharf.

Meet Hairy MacLary and his rag-tag friends

10.30am -12.30pm > The Cloud

Tim Bray Productions presents Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy as part of the REAL New Zealand Festival. Meet Hairy Maclary and his rag tag friends at The Cloud. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy is everybody’s favourite dog. He and all his friends come to life in this all-new stage show. Hairy Maclary, Hercules Morse, Bottomley Potts, Muffin McLay, Bitzer Maloney, Schnitzel von Krumm and the indomitable Scarface Claw bounce off the page, on to the stage and into the hearts of children and adults alike.

Deelicious Dance Crew

10.40-11.05am > Mainstage

Join the Deelicious Crew for some Siva Tau (Samoan haka) a short Samoan speech in Samoan & English, a set from Mr Deelicious Samoa and some Deelicious Drum line dance to finish.

The Enchanted Castle and the Magical Talking teapot

10.40 -11.10am & 12.00-12.30pm > The Cloud

The show follows a story of a Princess’ Birthday and she wants the Prince and the Giant to get her special presents, the Giant succeeds but the Prince fails dismally. This Giant Puppet Show comes with nine colourful characters: The Monty Pythonish style, and the oh so loveable, albeit a bit slow, Giant. The King, sat on his throne, suffers from memory loss and appears to be a bit dippy. The very British Prince, might be a bit over the top but is scared stiff of the Princess. And as for the Princess this young maiden is spoilt and it comes across loud and clear that no one gets in her way! Of course there’s the Court Jester, who struggles to make us laugh but gives it a go, and the gentle Dragon, who is no stranger than the Talking teapot. Yes a talking teapot – this is where the Magic comes from!

ReQuest Dance Crew- The Royale Family

11.10-11.30am > Mainstage

A melting pot of many cultures – Kiwi, Samoan, Chinese, Maori, Cook Island, Japanese, Hawaiian and Niuean. They are brought together through their love of dance. They are proud to be an all female crew and want to inspire all girls to dance. In 2009 they were crowned the World Varsity Hip Hop Champions and Battleground Supremacy Varsity Champions. In 2010 they became the World Adult Hip Hop Champions. They are the only crew to ever win back to back gold medals and to win a gold medal in two different divisions. This year they were on America’s Best Dance Crew Season 6 which has more than 2.2 million viewers each week. They have just returned from the 2011 World Hip Hop Champs where they won Silver in the Adults and Gold in the Mega Crew Division. They bring a unique style called Polyswagg that’s sassy & aggressive.

The Wonky Donkey

11.10-11.55am > The Cloud

Craig Smith, loved by children around New Zealand, will delight the youngsters in all of us with some cruisy, humorous acoustic music including the hugely popular kids hit The Wonky Donkey. In this very funny, cumulative song, each page tells us something new about the donkey until we end up with a spunky, hanky-panky cranky stinky dinky lanky honky-tonky winky wonky donkey, which will have children in fits of laughter! There is much fun to be had by listening to the song and trying to predict the new word for each clue given. Craig Smith's song, The Wonky Donkey, won an APRA Silver Scroll Award in 2008 for Best Children's Song of the Year.

Te Whare Kura O Mangere

12.00-12.30pm > Mainstage

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori a rohe o Mangere Wharekura has been part of Te Ahurea Tino Rangatiratanga kapahaka for Auckland Secondary Schools since 2002. Last year they won a placing in the Secondary Schools National Competition held in Rotorua They perform at a number of conferences and events and are currently practicing for the regional kapahaka comps to be held next term at Te Kura Maori o NgaTapuwae.

Sunday 11 September ‘Carnival’

The carnival continues as The Caribbeanz Southern Stars strum out some lively steel pan music and to please our Irish rugby fans and the New Zealand Celtic community the Connolly School of Irish Dancing will warm up the audience before the Irish meet the Russians on the field. Other groups and activities include: Crazy Aunty and the Rock Star Clown, The Wizard of Oz Munchkin Parade, Te Riri O Te Rangi, Haka Punks, Empress Stilt Walkers, The Enchanted Castle and the Magical Talking teapot, and Origami workshops and face painting.

Free face painting

From 10.30am > The Cloud

The Enchanted Castle and the Magical Talking teapot

10.30-11.00am & 1.00pm-1.30pm > The Cloud

The show follows a story of a Princess’ Birthday and she wants the Prince and the Giant to get her special presents, the Giant succeeds but the Prince fails dismally. This Giant Puppet Show comes with nine colourful characters: The Monty Pythonish style, and the oh so loveable albeit a bit slow, Giant. The King, sat on his throne, suffers from memory loss and appears to be a bit dippy. The very British Prince, might be a bit over the top but is scared stiff of the Princess. And as for the Princess this young maiden is spoilt and it comes across loud and clear that no one gets in her way! Of course there’s the Court Jester, who struggles to make us laugh but gives it a go, and the gentle Dragon, who is no stranger than the Talking teapot. Yes a talking teapot – this is where the Magic comes from!

Gumboot throwing competition

10.30am-3.30pm > Main Stage Forecourt

Come and play with some no-nonsense down to earth Kiwi blokes. Here to make sure you have fun on Queens Wharf, these Kiwi blokes see Gumboot throwing as a competitive sport, second only to rugby. They are previous winners of the Golden Gumboot at the Taihape National Competition and will be challenging visitors to Queens Wharf to compete against the best. This is serious agri-business!

Origami Workshop

11.00am-1.30pm > The Cloud

Join the New Zealand Japan Society to make a miniature origami Rugby jersey in your favourite team’s colours!

Crazy Aunty and the Rock Star Clown

11.00-11.30am & 1.30-2.00pm > The Cloud

The craziest, silliest, most fun Aunty ever is coming to her nephew’s birthday party in her amazing magical cart... BUT... she can’t find the birthday present! So in place of a present the Aunty and her side-kick, the Rock Star Clown, tell the most exciting, raucous, spine-chilling, adventure stories from their journeys.

Rangeview Intermediate School Kapa Haka Performance

11.00-11.25am > Main Stage

Italian Pirates

11.00am-3.00pm > Forecourt

Pantalona and Arlechino are pirates. They have come to Auckland from the other side of Earth, in search of treasure which Pantalona is sure is hidden somewhere in the Queens Wharf Fanzone. Greedy money-hungry Pantalona is desperate to find the treasure and is constantly bossing her servant Arlecchino around whereas all the starving Arlecchino really wants is to find the true Webb Ellis Cup then he can have a big hearty meal (although passer-bys’ ice creams do look attractive as well). Complete with treasure maps, telescopes and even a stuffed parrot or two these sea-faring adventurers are set for fame and fortune.

Irish Dancers

11.30am-11.45am, 12.35pm-12.50pm, 1.45pm-2.00pm > Main Stage

16 energetic performers from the Connolly School of Irish Dancing nod to Ireland!

The Caribbeanz Southern Stars Steelband

11.30am-11.50am & 12.30pm -12.50pm > The Cloud

The Caribbeanz Southern Stars Steelband – the only full steelband orchestra in Aotearoa/ New Zealand! Steelband music originated in Trinidad and Tobago and is the traditional music of the Caribbean Islands. The Caribbeanz Southern Stars Steelband has performed at a number of major Auckland and New Zealand events including the Auckland Intercultural Festival, the Cuba St Festival in Wellington, and the Hastings Blossom Festival. The band also performed for the Caribbean netball teams at the World Netball Championships held in New Zealand in 2007. The band was established in 2006 and is made up of players from the Caribbean and from many other countries around the world. This year the Caribbeanz Southern Stars Steelband proudly supports New Zealand and the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup 2011!

Taonga Puoro; Traditional Maori instruments.

12.00-12.20pm > The Cloud

Riki Bennett will demonstrate some traditional instruments and sing a couple of songs. This is an interactive performance and will be perfect for children.

Te Riri O Te Rangi

12.00-12.30pm > Main Stage

Live Cook Island drumming and singing

Haka Punks

1.00-8.00pm > Main Stage

The Haka Punks are a fresh dance crew performing athletic haka in a pop showcase. Maori led, with a colourful multicultural look, the Haka Punks perform solo or as a group of up to 40 urban dance warriors.

Wizard of Oz Munchkin Parade

2.00-2.30pm > Forecourt

If the weather is fine a troupe of lively Munchkins will be making their way from The Civic Theatre down to Queens Wharf.

Queens Wharf will be the heart of the action during Rugby World Cup 2011 in Auckland. All 48 matches are live on the big screens and the best of Auckland and New Zealand is on show every day with food and wine, fashion, music, business innovation and culture all as part of the REAL New Zealand Festival. Queens Wharf is open to everyone seven days a week from September 9 to October 24 and admission is free. The programme changes daily and there’s plenty for young and old right throughout the Tournament. Check the daily programme.