New Zealand might have a reputation as the world's most rugby-crazed nation but it seems many Kiwis are failing to catch Rugby World Cup fever.

The country will host the seven-week rugby extravaganza which kicks off on September 9, but only four in 10 citizens are actually looking forward to it, a new survey has found.

The UMR online survey showed 37 per cent of Kiwis were keen for the competition to kick-off, while 35 per cent were not looking forward to it and 29 per cent were neutral.

Enthusiasm was particularly low in Canterbury, which lost its rights to host several games after February's devastating Christchurch earthquake.

The survey of 850 adults also found half of New Zealanders thought the cup would be good for the economy, while 15 per cent disagreed and 32 per cent were neutral.

Forty-seven per cent believed the event would be disruptive, 23 per cent disagreed and 37 per cent were neutral.

Of those surveyed, 40 per cent thought tournament planners would be ready on time while 14 per cent thought they wouldn't and 46 per cent were neutral.

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