Edinburgh Tattoo: Kiwis To Have Frontline Seats

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-NZ-ON-AIR

EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO LURED AWAY FROM EDINBURGH TO NZ

Thanks to NZ On Air funding assistance, all New Zealanders will have ringside seats for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, being held at the Wellington Stadium on March 10-13.

A special programme based on the live event, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo In New Zealand, will screen on prime time television, TV One, shortly after it's performed live this year.

NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jo Tyndall said that New Zealand had strong links with Scotland.

"We have more pipe bands per capita than any other country in the world," said Ms Tyndall.

The event will be the feature act for the 2000 New Zealand International Festival of the Arts and tickets for the performances are already sold out. Ms Tyndall said that confirmed just how popular the Military Tattoo is in New Zealand.

"Many New Zealanders boast a proud Scottish heritage, which adds to the event's popularity. It's hardly surprising that the opportunity to see the Military Tattoo live in Wellington has been seized by capacity numbers.

"The television special means that all New Zealanders - not just those with the means or opportunity to attend the festival - will be able to experience this great event," said Ms Tyndall.

Ms Tyndall said that the Tattoo's performance in Wellington meant that more than two thirds of the participants in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo are in fact New Zealand acts.

"This makes the event all the more significant for a New Zealand audience - especially since the local acts featured are of the type that we rarely see on our screens, such as army bands, marching teams and pipe bands," said Ms Tyndall.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has traditionally entertained 200,000 people every year from Edinburgh Castle, plus a worldwide television audience of millions. This is the first time in its 50- year history that the Tattoo has been held outside of Edinburgh.

NZ On Air also announced funding for a television special on ANZAC Day, to allow people all over the country to participate in ANZAC remembrance proceedings, even if they can't make it to a dawn ceremony.

Ms Tyndall, said that the ceremony was of particular significance to war veterans and their families, many of whom relied on the television special to bring the ceremony into their homes.

"There is also evidence that a growing number of young New Zealanders are commemorating ANZAC Day. The television special is for all New Zealanders. It's a day in our history that is commemorated by so many people," said Ms Tyndall.

The Anzac Day National Wreath Laying Ceremony 2000 will screen at 11am on Anzac Day (Tuesday 25 April) on TV One.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo In New Zealand will screen on TV One in late March.

NZ On Air has allocated $40,000 to TVNZ for production of the 90 minute special, The Edinburgh Military Tattoo In New Zealand, and $27,444 to TVNZ for the one-hour special, ANZAC Day National Wreath Laying Ceremony 2000.

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