Supporters of the British & Irish Lions rugby team were in town in the days leading up to the second test match against the All Blacks at Westpac Stadium on Saturday July 2nd, 2005. The first test in Christchurch a week earlier had been won by the All Blacks 21-3 in appalling conditions.

The number of Lions supporters following the tour in New Zealand had built up to somewhere between 15-25,000. Whatever it was, Wellington was now the place they were at. The public interest in the tour had been very high, and the country as a whole was endeavouring to make its guests feel welcome. With both older and younger Lions supporters over here, the average age of those touring was apparently about 40. And they were having a good time of it. Many were drinking copious amounts but it was all good-natured and they were basically a pleasure to have here. Certainly no-one was complaining about the money they were spending locally, and the number of campervans on the roads (and at holiday parks) far exceeded what one would normally expect in the depths of winter.

Even though the test results at this stage haven't gone the way their fans would have liked, they've been admirable in their support and are enjoying what has been, for many of them, a holiday of a lifetime.

These pages strive to capture something of this one-off occasion. Various businesses in the region were adorned with posters, balloons and flags demonstrating their support for the All Blacks. And on the streets of Wellington itself, one couldn't avoid red jersey-wearing Lions supporters. As well as taking a few photos capturing support for the All Blacks in Tawa and Porirua, I went into central Wellington both midday Friday and the latter part of Saturday afternoon, for the specific purpose of observing and enjoying something of what it was all about. The sentiment has been expressed that hopefully it won't be another twelve years before we again host the Lions team - and their myriad supporters - in this country. I fully go along with that.

- Malcolm Sparrow

P.S. The All Blacks beat the Lions 48-18 in Wellington.