Kiwi Dress-up...and fall down drunk

I arrived in Wellington in late January, just in time for the International Sevens--which is rugby meets Mardi Gras. The two-day tournament had been sold out for months, but Robyn, one of my new friends at the Waitangi Tribunal, had an extra ticket. The tournament consists of 20 minute mini-games with 7 men a side. But it's not really about rugby--it's about dressing up and getting drunk.

The tournament begins with a parade--this was right outside the office building where I'm working in downtown Wellington.


Many people dressup for the games. Often there'll be groups of four or more who have chosen a theme or all wear the same costume. Some just come solo:



Dressing-up as Indians from "Dances with Wolves" is very popular.

Here's me and Robyn, my friend from the Tribunal--she brought watermelon soaked in vodka--great fun.


Most people don't pay much attention to the games--it's more about socializing, drinking, singing and seeing all the crazy costumes.

By the end of the day, most people didn't even care that New Zealand had lost.