Second-hand clothing stores are expecting a rush on anything green before the final Rugby World Cup clash in Dunedin on Sunday, in which Ireland plays Italy.
Butterflies The Hospice Shop supervisor Robyn Elliman said the store usually stockpiled everything green to sell in March, but had brought stock out yesterday.
"We found a lot of our novelty items and I've brought them out, just to help get fans in the right mood," she said.
She was focusing on the Irish team because she knew how much students, in particular, loved dressing up for St Patrick's Day and believed people "always went for the underdog".
There was also a rush on the blue, yellow and red colours of Romania last weekend.
Presbyterian Support retail manager Chrissy Anderson said a few people, including some Irish, had been in yesterday "looking for green stuff".
Many people had visited the store during the past few weeks in search of English red and white items, but she expected this weekend to be the best for the store.
"I suspect we might be busier this weekend, because there is so much excitement about the Ireland and Italy game. They are both quite extrovert races," she said.
