Pokemon fans gathered on the waterfront to play the new Pokemon Go phone game.

New Zealand's landmarks were taken over by thousands of Pokemon GO fans glued to their phones on Saturday.

They ambled about in a "zombie-like" state at the Auckland Domain, pressed up against shop windows in Hamilton, lazed on the steps of Parliament in Wellington, and rushed through Hagley Park in Christchurch.

Despite confusion over the event being cancelled in Auckland by the organiser after a misunderstanding with the council, hundreds still turned up.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/stuff.co.nz The lure of catching Pokemon drew a couple of hundred trainers to a Hamilton walk on Saturday. ﻿

Organisers of the Pokemon Go Walk announced on Friday night the meet up would be postponed because they were unable to get an event permit.

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CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FAIRFAX NZ Hunter Elliott was among those playing in Hamilton.

But Auckland Council said there had been a misunderstanding and there was no permit required for Pokemon fans to wander around the domain while playing on their phones.

Kristhea Palabrica and James Jennings hadn't realised the event had been postponed. Despite the change in plans, it had turned out to be a great day, with plenty of fellow gamers around the park.

Jennings, 28, said he'd partially been attracted to the game because of the social element to it - he had moved to Auckland in February and said it had been hard going meeting people outside of work.

CATHERINE GROENESTEIN/FAIRFAX NZ Antony Cleghorn was all set for an afternoon hunting Pokemon in New Plymouth on Saturday.

"It's hard to make new friends as an adult," Jennings said.

The hiking enthusiast said he had been chatting to a few people and while he hadn't made any contacts yet it was "early days".

Dad Chris Benjamin was at the Domain with his four-year-old son Caleb, who was a huge Pokemon enthusiast.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FAIRFAX NZ The lure of catching Pokemon drew a couple of hundred trainers to a Hamilton walk.

The prerequisite to Caleb catching Pokemon around the Domain was he had to visit the Museum with his dad first.

In Hamilton, the rain did not deter fans who pressed up against shops to avoid getting wet. But the sun soon came back as the Pokemon Go Walk Hamilton group split into two to start its search.

Eyes were never far from phones as players swiped their way through the city, with chatter about catching Weedles, pokestops and evolving Pidgeys.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FAIRFAX NZ Players even dressed up for the occasion. From left: Jordy Macdonald, Jamie Macdonald and Amelie Macdonald.

The aim of the day was simple: Pikachu onesie-clad Jordy Macdonald said.

"We're just going for a huge walk around town to catch Pokemon, go to Pokestops, collect balls, potions, all that kind of thing," she said.

"It's just a big fun game of exploring and making your team the best in the country."

LAWRENCE SMITH/ FAIRFAX NZ The players were glued to their smartphones at Auckland Domain.

"I grew up watching Pokemon ... it's one of those things that's always going to remind me of my childhood and that's probably why I like it so much even now."

By lunchtime on Saturday, Wellington's waterfront was crowded by a swarm of Pokemon Go players moving slowly en masse.

The crowd of what could have been as many as 2000 Pokemon Go players moved from Waitangi Park toward the Botanic Garden.

LAWRENCE SMITH/ FAIRFAX NZ Despite the event being cancelled in Auckland, hundreds turned up.

The vibe was reminiscent of the capital's Armageddon pulp culture expo, as cos-players armed with iPhones low-speed chased the virtual beasts with names like Psyduck and Charmander.

Lorenzo Saled and his friends had wandered off the walk by the time the Pokemon Go crowd had moved on to Parliament.

He was not a die-hard Pokemon Go player, he said- but found it addictive: "There's way too many to catch."

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FAIRFAX NZ Plenty of plush toys were brought along for the occasion.

Palmerston North was also bustling, with more than 100 Pokemon players spread across The Square.

Anthony Robertson was out catching Pokemon within hours of the app becoming available and was one of the first to arrive at the fan-organised event on Saturday.

"I didn't really expect it to be this popular. I thought there'd be a couple of people wandering around playing it, not all of Palmerston North.

GLENN MCCONNELL/ FAIRFAX NZ Pokemon GO fans descended on Parliament for a meet-up on Saturday, July 16.

Some groups did circuits of the Pokestops, while others just chatted with fellow fans over the tops of their phones around the war memorial.

Eventually, Robertson stuck his hand up as an impromptu team leader to get a group moving.

"We were supposed to be walking at 12pm, so I decided I'd see if I we could get people moving to the Esplanade," he said.

GLENN MCCONNELL/ FAIRFAX NZ Pokemon GO fans descended on Parliament for a meet-up on Saturday, July 16.

Up to 100 gamers also gathered for a group hunt in New Plymouth, with a Pikachu beanie-clad Antony Cleghorn the first to arrive.

The 37-year-old, who was sporting a 20-year-old Pokemon shirt, said he became a Pokemon fan when the first games were released on Game Boy in the 1990s.

"A lot of people have commented on Facebook about Pokemon Go, saying 'get a life.' But I'm 37. I work, I have a wife and a son, and I have beaten cancer. I have a life," he said.

JOHN BISSET/ FAIRFAX NZ The meet up also attracted big crowds in Timaru.

​In Christchurch, some players didn't even bother getting dressed for the occasion.

Cameron Mora, 26, who was still clothed in his dressing gown, lauded software developer Niantic's creation.

"It's a bit nostalgic for me, really.

"I mean obviously I played it a lot and watched it a lot when I was a kid, but it's fun, it's interactive, I mean you go outside, you go out with your friends, you meet new people.

Robert Palmer, 16, downloaded the game as soon as it became available last Wednesday.

Since then, he has spent hours playing the game.

"It says I've walked around 40km, I think."

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