The largest multi-sport ever held in New Zealand will also be one of the largest ever held in the world.

More than 27,000 people have signed up to be players, spectators and officials in the next month's World Masters Games in Auckland and Waikato.

That's close to the 28,700 participants who were involved in the record-breaking Sydney World Masters Games in 2009.

Games chief executive Jennah Wootten said people can still sign up to the historic event as spectators, or athletes in some events.

"It's not going to come again in our life time. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in a major event of this scale."

Wootten said they have far more sign-ups than the Turin World Masters Games in 2009, and the sign-ups are expected to increase further.

"With registrations for six of our sports still on sale until the 31st of March, I'm confident that number will continue to grow.

Registrations are still open for Athletics Cross Country, Cycling Criterium, Cycling Mountain Bike, Triathlon Sprint, Triathlon Standard, and Swimming Open Water.

People can also become accredited for spectators to attend the opening ceremony, which will feature the largest laser light show New Zealand has ever had.

The World Masters Games will also been used as a platform to promote the Auckland economy.

Tourism and business agency ATEED will be holding business events for thousands of participants coming from around the world.

A business hub will be set up at the Grid AKL innovation precinct in Wynyard Quarter.

Business innovation manager Patrick McVeigh said it will target people who are looking for opportunities while they are here.

"Whether that's about future investment, or relocating their business, or moving here as a skilled migrant, it will give them the ability to understand Auckland's economy."

Patrick McVeigh says people from around the world will be attending the Games, and many of them will have down time to talk business.

"They're going to be in the city for a good period of time for sporting reasons, but many of them also get the opportunity to see and experience more than that."

Similar programmes were run during the 2011 Rugby and 2013 Cricket World Cups, and there are also plans for this year's Lions tour.