Buying official All Blacks tickets is one of the most competitive tasks in New Zealand sport. When a tier-one opponent tours, the biggest home Tests can sell out in minutes, which makes knowing where and when to buy just as important as being quick on the day. This guide explains how All Blacks ticketing actually works in New Zealand: the official sellers, how presales give you a head start, what seats and prices to expect, how to travel to the ground for free, and how to avoid the resale scams that target big matches.
Everything below is written for local supporters and beginners. Technical terms are explained as they appear, and prices and dates are given as guidance only — always confirm the current detail against the official seller for the specific match you want.
Key Points
- New Zealand Rugby uses two official primary sellers: Ticketmaster for Eden Park (Auckland) and Ticketek for other venues. Start at allblacks.com.
- A free presale sign-up (Team All Blacks / fan hub) or provincial-union membership can get you in before the general public sale.
- The biggest Tests can sell out in minutes because New Zealand’s stadiums are relatively small — buy early and have a backup seating tier ready.
- Never buy from unauthorised resellers such as Viagogo or StubHub; those tickets can be cancelled at the gate.
- For major Tests, your ticket also gives free train and bus travel on match day in Auckland and Wellington.
Why All Blacks Tickets Are So Hard to Get
Demand for men’s international rugby in New Zealand is consistently higher than the number of seats available. The All Blacks are one of the most successful national teams in world sport, and a home Test against South Africa’s Springboks, France, Ireland or Australia is treated as a major event rather than an ordinary fixture. That combination of a limited number of home matches each year and a large, nationwide fan base is what drives the scramble whenever seats go on sale.
Stadium size is the other half of the story. New Zealand’s grounds are modest by global standards, so even the largest home Tests offer far fewer seats than the public would buy. If you want to plan ahead, it helps to track the All Blacks home fixtures early, because the marquee matches — the ones most likely to sell out — are usually clear as soon as the schedule is confirmed.
The Main New Zealand Test Venues
The All Blacks rotate their home Tests around a handful of stadiums. Capacities below are approximate and can change when temporary seating is added for a big match.
| Stadium (City) | Approx. rugby capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eden Park (Auckland) | ~50,000 (up to ~60,000 with temporary seats) | The largest ground and the traditional home of the biggest Tests. |
| Hnry Stadium (Wellington) | ~34,500 | The circular “Cake Tin” on the waterfront; renamed from Sky Stadium in March 2026. |
| Forsyth Barr Stadium (Dunedin) | ~30,700 | New Zealand’s only fully roofed stadium, so weather is never a factor. |
| FMG Stadium Waikato (Hamilton) | ~25,800 | A compact regional ground with grandstands close to the pitch. |
Where to Buy Official All Blacks Tickets
There is no single national ticket shop for the All Blacks. Instead, New Zealand Rugby uses two authorised primary sellers, split by venue. “Primary” simply means the official first-sale channel, as opposed to resale sites where tickets are traded second-hand.
- Ticketmaster handles ticketing for Tests at Eden Park in Auckland.
- Ticketek handles Tests at the other New Zealand venues, including Wellington, Dunedin and Hamilton.
The simplest and safest route is to start at the team’s own website, allblacks.com, and follow its official links to whichever seller is running the match you want. New Zealand Rugby specifically advises fans not to rely on a search engine to find tickets, because paid ads at the top of results often lead to unauthorised resellers. Ticketek also sells official tickets for the Black Ferns and the Māori All Blacks, so the same official-first habit applies across New Zealand Rugby’s teams.
How to Get in Early: Presales
A presale is a period before general public sale when a specific group can buy first. Getting into a presale is the single biggest advantage a fan can have for a high-demand Test, because a share of seats is sold before the general rush begins. Common presale routes include:
- Team All Blacks / fan hub registration: free sign-up that can grant early access and a unique code for a presale window ahead of general sale.
- Provincial union and stadium members: season members of your local rugby union, and members at some grounds, often receive their own priority window.
- Sponsor and partner presales: commercial partners of New Zealand Rugby sometimes run access windows for their customers.
Presale allocations are limited, so a presale code improves your odds but never guarantees a seat. Sign up well ahead of the on-sale date, and make sure the email address on your account is one you check, since codes and links are sent by email.
All Blacks Tickets in Wellington: Hnry Stadium
Wellington’s waterfront ground was known as Sky Stadium until a new naming-rights deal took effect on 1 March 2026, when it became Hnry Stadium. Locals still call it the “Cake Tin” for its round shape. It is one of the most atmospheric Test venues in the country, but it is also exposed to Wellington’s changeable wind and rain, so seat choice matters more here than at a roofed ground.
Choosing Your Seats at the Cake Tin
Because the stadium is a single continuous bowl, sightlines are good from almost anywhere. The main difference between areas is shelter and atmosphere rather than the view:
- Covered sideline stands (east and west): the best protection from wind and rain, and a good choice for families or anyone who wants a comfortable, all-weather seat.
- Lower sideline and corner areas: closer to the action and often better value, with more exposure to the elements.
- General-admission and active-support areas: the most vocal, lively parts of the ground, usually at the cheaper end.
- Accessible seating: level-access platforms with companion seats; contact the official seller’s accessibility line when booking.
If the weather forecast is poor and comfort is your priority, a fully roofed venue such as Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin removes the question entirely.
Ticket Categories and Prices
Test tickets are sold in tiers, usually shown as colour-coded zones on the seating map when you buy. Exact prices change from match to match and are set by New Zealand Rugby and the venue, so treat the ranges below as indicative rather than fixed. As a rough guide, prices rise with shelter, comfort and closeness to the halfway line.
| Ticket tier | Indicative price (NZD) | What you typically get |
|---|---|---|
| Premium / hospitality | $300+ | Best seats plus lounge access, catering and other extras, sold as a package. |
| Category A (covered) | ~$140–$220 | Reserved seats under cover with strong central sightlines. |
| Category B / C (reserved) | ~$70–$140 | Lower-bowl sideline or upper corner seats; good value and close to play. |
| General admission / family | from ~$30–$75 | Cheapest entry, often with family zones; the most affordable way in. |
Most matches also apply a maximum number of tickets per person or per transaction, set to spread seats fairly and to make bulk-buying for resale harder. The limit is shown at checkout and can vary by match. New Zealand’s rugby calendar features Tests of very different profiles — you can see the range across a full year in the 2025 Test season review, from sell-out blockbusters to more readily available fixtures.
Avoiding Scams and the Secondary Market
The “secondary market” means the resale of tickets after the first sale. Some official resale exists — several primary sellers run their own capped, verified fan-to-fan resale for genuine returns — but the risky end of the market is unauthorised resale platforms and social-media sellers. New Zealand Rugby’s terms prohibit unauthorised commercial resale of Test tickets, and tickets bought through those channels can be cancelled, leaving you locked out at the gate with little chance of a refund.
Official vs Resale Tickets
| Factor | Official seller (Ticketek / Ticketmaster / allblacks.com) | Unauthorised resale (Viagogo, StubHub, private sellers) |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket validity | Guaranteed valid and accepted at the gate | Can be cancelled or deactivated; may be refused entry |
| Price | Set face value plus standard fees | Often inflated well above face value |
| Consumer rights | Refund rights apply, including if a match is cancelled | Little or no recourse if the ticket fails |
| Fraud risk | Low — official channel | High — duplicated barcodes and fake listings are common |
| Legitimate resale | Some sellers run a capped, verified fan-to-fan resale | Not covered by New Zealand Rugby’s terms |
Practical rules that keep you safe: buy only through the official seller for that venue; never pay a private seller for a barcode or a PDF ticket; be wary of prices well above face value; and remember that buying through an official channel keeps your consumer rights intact, including the right to a refund if a match is cancelled under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
Match-Day Travel: Free Public Transport
One of the best-value perks of an official Test ticket is transport. For major All Blacks Tests, regional transport agencies build the fare into the ticket — so on match day your ticket doubles as a bus and train pass. This is worth planning around, because councils close roads and restrict parking near the grounds, and driving to the gate is usually slow and frustrating.
- Auckland (Eden Park): Auckland Transport lets ticket holders travel free on trains and buses for several hours around kick-off — just show your match ticket. Trains to Kingsland station put you a short walk from the ground.
- Wellington (Hnry Stadium): Metlink includes travel in the ticket price on rail and bus, with extra services laid on. Wellington Station sits beside the stadium via a covered walkway.
Show your ticket — printed or on your phone — when you board. Park-and-ride at an outer station is often the easiest way in and out for a big Test. If you can’t make it to the ground, there are more ways than ever to follow the All Blacks on screen and online.
What You Can and Can’t Bring
Modern stadiums run bag checks and security screening at the gates to keep the day safe and family-friendly. Rules vary slightly by venue, so check the specific ground’s website before you travel, but the general pattern is consistent across New Zealand grounds. Stadium regulations are enforced at entry, and prohibited items are confiscated, so it pays to pack light. Wikipedia
- Usually allowed: small soft bags, sealed water bottles (refill stations are provided), and small amounts of homemade food, subject to the venue’s rules.
- Usually not allowed: glass, cans, alcohol brought from outside, large rigid chilly bins, oversized bags, and professional cameras or long lenses that breach broadcast rights.
- Good to know: many grounds have designated alcohol-free family areas; present open bags for a quick check at the gate and store gear under your seat.
The 2026 Calendar and the Nations Championship
International rugby’s schedule changed in 2026 with the launch of the Nations Championship, a new global competition played every two years that links the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship teams and ends with a Finals Weekend. In its first edition the All Blacks hosted France, Italy and Ireland in July before travelling north in November, with the finals staged in London. Alongside it, the All Blacks continued their series against South Africa and the Bledisloe Cup against Australia.
For ticket buyers, the practical effect is that more home Tests now carry competition points rather than being stand-alone friendlies, which tends to lift demand. It is another reason to sort out presale access and to buy early for the matches you most want to attend.
How Ticket Sales Support the Game
Revenue from Test tickets is a major source of funding for New Zealand Rugby, which oversees 26 provincial unions across the country (14 of them contest the top domestic competition, rebranded the Hilux NPC for 2026). Money raised at the top helps fund the wider game, from community clubs and schools to the professional tiers.
That funding supports the whole player pathway — junior and school rugby, provincial NPC sides, and the five New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific teams — which in turn feeds talent back to the All Blacks. In short, buying an official ticket puts money into the game rather than into the pockets of resellers.
Sources
- All Blacks — Official Match Tickets
- All Blacks — Frequently Asked Questions (buying safely)
- Ticketek New Zealand
- Ticketmaster New Zealand
- Metlink — Game-day tickets on public transport
- Auckland Transport — Event travel
- New Zealand Rugby — Nations Championship opponents announced
- New Zealand Rugby — Hilux NPC partnership
- Consumer Protection NZ — Consumer Guarantees Act
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where can I buy official All Blacks tickets in New Zealand?
Start at allblacks.com and follow its links to the official seller for your match. Ticketmaster sells tickets for Tests at Eden Park in Auckland, while Ticketek sells tickets for the other New Zealand venues, including Wellington, Dunedin and Hamilton. Avoid buying through search-engine ads, which often lead to unauthorised resellers.
How do I get presale access before tickets go on general sale?
Sign up free for the official Team All Blacks fan channels, which can send you early-access codes and links for a presale window. Season members of your provincial union or, at some grounds, stadium members may also get a priority window. Presale allocations are limited, so early access improves your chances but does not guarantee a seat.
Are tickets from Viagogo, StubHub or Facebook sellers valid?
They are risky. New Zealand Rugby prohibits unauthorised commercial resale of Test tickets, and tickets bought through those channels can be cancelled and refused at the gate, usually with no refund. If you need to buy resale, use only the official, capped resale service run by the primary seller for that match.
Is public transport free when I go to an All Blacks Test?
For major Tests, yes. In Auckland, Auckland Transport lets ticket holders ride trains and buses free around kick-off, and in Wellington, Metlink includes travel in the ticket price on rail and bus. Just show your match ticket, printed or on your phone, when you board. Check the agency’s details for your specific match.
Where should I sit at Wellington’s Hnry Stadium to stay out of the weather?
The venue, still nicknamed the Cake Tin, is exposed to wind and rain. For the best shelter, choose covered seats in the east or west sideline stands. If avoiding the weather is your main concern, a fully roofed ground such as Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin removes the risk entirely.
