Dazzling Your Senses
A feast of style, colour and entertainment will explode onto New Zealand television screens in coming months, with NZ On
Air announcing funding for three widely diverse projects for screening on TV One.
"All three of these programmes are popular returns," said NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jo Tyndall. "The World of
WearableArt Awards, Westfield Style Pasifika, and The New Zealand Young Musician of the Year Competition have been well
received by New Zealand television audiences over the last few years. They're funded under our Arts, Culture and
Performance banner, and they're all very different.
"The World of WearableArt Awards have become an icon in New Zealand's cultural year, and now attract not only local
designers, but also many entrants from overseas. The event itself is spectacular, and although it's not until September,
tickets are already almost sold out. The highlights programme, hosted by Peta Matthias, will give many more New
Zealanders the chance to enjoy it," she said.
"The Westfield Style Pasifika fashion show held annually in Auckland is an exciting and vibrant tribute to New Zealand's
place in the Pacific," said Ms Tyndall. "It is an extraordinary showcase for the Pacific, and a show that combines the
finest New Zealand and Pacific talent in traditional and contemporary music, performance and fashion. Categories range
from Traditionally Inspired and Pasifika Hero to Urban Street Wear and Bridal. Those who get to attend in person talk
about it for months afterwards, and getting the best of the show on television means it can reach a much bigger
audience.
"It's a similar thing with The New Zealand Young Musician of the Year Competition too. The competition is held every two
years, and the television special will allow us to see and hear the cream of the talent that's poised to fill the
concert halls here and internationally in the future. It's also a rare chance to hear quality classical music, played
well, on television."