New Zealand firms are figuring out how to get themselves and their products on the radar of the many business people making the trip to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup.
The Government-funded Business Club is acting as something of a matchmaker between local and international firms.
Business Club manager Bridget Abernethy says the club has so far it has attracted more than 3000 members from New Zealand and 2000 from offshore.
Ms Abernethy says New Zealand business people have come up with around 264 hosting events, such as a barbecue in Tauranga, a West Coast cycling tour and a Wellington business lunch.
One of the firms to sign up for the Business Club is TracMap, a Mosgiel-based business which provides global positioning and mapping systems for the agricultural sector.
Managing director Colin Brown plans to take small groups of business people jet boating on a local river and four wheel driving in the mountains to see a high country station.
He says they will take the opportunity to get to know the businesss people and show off the company's technology.
Waikato-based Zee Zee Merino, which makes sustainably sourced clothing for babies and children, was started by sisters Becky Sharman and Amy Whetu four years ago.
Mrs Whetu says they'll be taking guests on a four-wheel drive trip through their parents' dairy farm, which backs onto the Hobbiton film set, and exploring the bush before having lunch at the farm's homestead.
Mrs Whetu hopes the event will help to forge new relationships, especially as the company develops its export markets.
The 2011 Rugby World Cup is expected to attract 85,000 international visitors to New Zealand, and be screened to a television of audience of more than four billion people.
