Media release
Come on Auckland, do ‘The Locomotion’
KiwiRail is encouraging Aucklanders to join in its celebrations of 150 years of rail in New Zealand by dancing ‘The
Locomotion’ at the Strand Station in Parnell this Sunday, 29 October, at 11.30am.
Auckland Mayor, Len Brown, will be there to kick off the dancing and 91 ZM’s The Black Thunder crew be playing Kylie’s
rendition of the memorable song, and lead the crowd through the dance challenge.
‘The Locomotion’ challenge is part of ‘Keeping NZ on the Move: Exhibition Express’ Open Day, a free family-friendly
exhibition showcasing the evolution of New Zealand’s rail industry with scenic carriages and educational displays.
KiwiRail Chief Executive, Jim Quinn, says “We thought what better way to celebrate the milestone than encouraging the
local community to come along and make a song and dance about it!”
“Doing ‘The Locomotion’ is a fun way to celebrate the contribution rail has made to New Zealand’s growth and evolution
over the last 150 years. We want to make a commotion about ‘The Locomotion’ and create the largest Locomotion dance –
and
also challenge all New Zealanders to get involved at the other Open Days as the exhibition moves around the country.”
“We really hope a lot of people get behind the challenge this weekend, and bring the kids down to enjoy the fun. I might
even put on my own dancing shoes,” Mr Quinn says.
Everyone who comes along to the Open Day will be able to enter a competition to win a KiwiRail family travel prize by
guessing how many milk bottle lollies are in a container. The competition is a tribute to the hundreds of millions of
litres of milk
KiwiRail transports every year.
The winning entry will win a fantastic KiwiRail family travel prize of a scenic journey for two adults and three
children on the Northern Explorer. The winner will be announced at 2pm on the day.
Come on Auckland! Do ‘The Locomotion’
Where: The Strand Station
Ngaoho Place, Parnell
Auckland
Date: Sunday 29 September
Time: 10am – 4pm (Locomotion dance at 11.30am)
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
KiwiRail’s ‘Keeping NZ on the Move: Exhibition Express’ Auckland Open Day runs at the same location on Sunday 29
September, from 10am – 4pm.
The Exhibition Express is a free, family-friendly exhibition packed with fascinating displays about rail in New Zealand.
It will feature four individually-themed educational containers hauled by a locomotive representing KiwiRail’s journey
from 1863 to today, KiwiRail’s scenic journeys and contribution to New Zealand tourism, rail safety, and the vital role
KiwiRail plays in moving New Zealand’s economy.
www.150yearsrail.org.nz