Four New Zealand tenders for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2011 Rugby World Cup are no longer in the running.
However, an Australian company that organised the opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympics remains in contention.
September's opening ceremony is now less than eight months away.
Joe Bleakley, the concept designer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, submitted a tender for the world cup unsuccessfully.
He says it would be very strange for the event organisers to choose an international company to organise the ceremonies.
Mr Bleakley says the ceremonies would not properly reflect New Zealand culture if they were organised by an Australian company.
Three other New Zealand contenders - Tanemahuta Gray, Mike Mizrahi and Logan Brewer - have all confirmed their proposals were unsuccessful.
David Aitkins Enterprises of Australia is the only company that has confirmed it is still in the running.
The Rugby World Cup 2011 company says it has identified its preferred company and is now finalising the process.
It expects that most, and perhaps all, of the creative content of the ceremonies will be New Zealand-made and delivered.
