Christchurch had been set to host two quarterfinals and five group-stage games but, after a meeting with International Rugby Board (IRB) officials today, Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully announced the city would no longer have that role.
Its two quarterfinals will now be played in Auckland on October 8 and 9, while pool games allocated to Christchurch will go to other venues yet to be confirmed.
"We're facing a long hard winter here in this city of ours,'' said Mr Parker.
"We were looking forward to a spring that would be brightened by having the Rugby World Cup here in our city.''
Mr Parker said while he understood the decision, as a Cantabrian he would always find it hard to take.
"From my heart I will always find this decision hard to accept _ perhaps even agree with at some level - but in my head what is important for us all to recognise is that this is an event that is bigger than Christchurch, it is about our country,'' he said.
"As much as many of us are completely gutted by this we understand... the decision.''
Not holding the games was a major blow to the city's businesses which were looking forward to the influx of rugby supporters into the city.
"I do worry about our businesses, I do worry about those people who saw this event and the opportunities that it would bring as some extra warmth at the end of that long hard winter,'' he said.
It was not only the people of Christchurch who would miss out but also the people who had booked to come to the city.
"They are going to miss out on probably the most rugby-centric place in New Zealand.''
Former All Black Dennis Young, a member of the Canterbury Rugby Supporters' Club since it formed in 1969, said while the announcement was not a surprise, it was still a "dreadful blow'' for the city
The reports I have been hearing have not been very good, with the accommodation and the fear of more earthquakes,'' Mr Young said
"When you put it all together I'm not too surprised.''
While the decision was a blow to the city, Mr Young did not think it would affect the game of rugby in the city, and Canterbury would remain one of the strongest rugby provinces.
The announcement came after speculation over whether AMI Stadium could be repaired in time for the Rugby World Cup after the playing surface was affected by serious liquefaction and there was structural damage to the stands. International media had already reported the IRB had ruled out the city as a venue.
There were also worries that in the event the stadium could be fixed there would not be enough accommodation in the city with many of its largest hotels, including the Hotel Grand Chancellor, badly hit by the quake.
Some of those hit by the quake were also worried work on the stadium could delay reconstruction elsewhere.
