Free Children's Day celebrations at Govt House

Media statement

26 February 2008

Dance with the stars, learn to juggle, or get down to hip hop at Government House on Children’s Day

Children can learn how to hip hop with Emerge, dance the light fandango with Monty Betham and Nerida Jantti from ‘Dancing with the Stars’, play rugby league with the North City Vikings, juggle with Renegade and much more at a free Children’s Day event at Government House in Wellington this Sunday.

The theme for Children’s Day is ‘new experiences’. For many, visiting Government House will be a new experience, however the range of workshops and activities planned means there will be plenty of opportunities for other new experiences too.

The day will also feature entertainment from performers including NZ Idol Ben Lummis, gyspsy ban Niko Nezna, and the dancing workshop stars. Children can have their faces painted, join in the earth ball and parachute games, play on a bouncy castle, learn new art skills from our participating artist and listen to story tellers and more.

The event has been organised by Every Child Counts* and will be hosted by Her Excellency, Mrs Susan Satyanand, Patron of Children’s Day.

“It’s wonderful to have the patron of Children’s Day hosting children at her place for such a lively, fun event,” said Deborah Morris-Travers, Every Child Counts Project Manager.

“Of course, there’s nothing quite like seeing children have a new experience and learn something new. It’s one of the great things about being a parent so we know the day will be full of fun for children and adults alike,” she said.

Children will also have the chance to win spot prizes donated by Interislander, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Wellington City Council and the Human Rights Commission.

Details: Every Child Counts Children’s Day celebration

Sunday 2 March - 10am-3pm

Government House, 1 Rugby St, Near the Basin Reserve

ENDS

* Note: He Mana to ia Tamaiti / Every Child Counts is a coalition including Barnardos, Plunket, Save the Children, Unicef NZ and AUT’s Institute of Public Policy, supported by more than 350 other organisations and thousands of individual supporters. [Programme on following page]

Programme

10am Gates open

10.40am Warm welcome from MCs – Meyer Peteli and Shane Cortese

10.45am Chinese lion dancers

11am Governor General, Her Excellency Mrs Susan Satyanand (Patron of Children’s Day)

Gillian Royer and Samantha O’Callaghan (10 yrs)

Ben Lummis performs

Cindy Kiro, Children’s Commissioner

Murray Edridge, Chair of Every Child Counts

11.30am Ben Lummis

12. 00pm Dancing with the Stars – Monty Betham and Nerida Jantti

12.15pm Emerge

12.30pm Aoga Amata

12.45pm cHip cHop

1.00pm A chance for children and young people to do ballroom and/ or Hip Hop on stage

1.30pm Niko Nezna

ENDS

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