16 October 2006
Maori Television broadcasts Military Pageant
Maori Television has secured the official broadcast rights to a spectacular
musical military pageant to be held at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium
on November 3 this year.
Featuring a cast of more than 800, the pageant is the premier event marking
the Year of the Veteran and the 90th anniversary of the Royal New Zealand
Returned and Services’ Association (RNZRSA).
The broadcast – from 8.00 PM to 10.30 PM – will feature tributes
to the service and sacrifice of veterans from the Boer War to the present
day.
The one-night only event will include a salute to the RNZRSA, military
bands, massed pipes and drums, a simulated battle, a RNZAF flypast, the
1812 Overture, cadets and vocalists such as Hinewehi Mohi with choir and
blind award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Terry Kelly.
Maori Television chief executive Jim Mather says the decision by the
Year of the Veteran Committee to confirm the channel as the official broadcaster
of the pageant was greatly influenced by the success of its ANZAC Day
broadcast in April this year. The station will again devote its entire
broadcast schedule to ANZAC Day in 2007.
"The military pageant will be the major national event of the Year
of the Veteran and the broadcast is important to enable all New Zealanders
with the opportunity salute our veterans," Mr Mather says.
Veterans' Affairs Minister Rick Barker says the pageant will be a tremendous
opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the massive contribution veterans
have made to our communities, cities and, indeed, to New Zealand's free
and democratic society.
"I'm delighted that as a result of the Maori Television broadcast
audiences nationwide will be able to experience the pageant," Mr
Barker says.
Viewers can call the helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 628 2868)
for advice on how to tune in to Maori Television. For more information,
go to www.maoritelevision.com.
For more information contact:
Vanessa Bidois
Kaiwhakapota a Whare (Publicist Internal)
Maori Television
DDI: 09 539 7159
MOB: 021 928 007
EML: vanessa.bidois@maoritelevision.com
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