Media Statement
27 October 2000
TrustPower Energises Child Safety
Communities around New Zealand are about to benefit from a Young Enterprise project by Tauranga’s Otumoetai College,
thanks to electricity retailer and generator TrustPower.
Otumoetai College’s Young enterprise team won the Young Enterprise Scheme 2000 national award for its “For KiDZ Sake”
video, which promotes child safety around the pool, in the garage, in the home and on the road.
The video features cartoon characters Oki and Oops, who explore dangers in and around homes supported by a cast of local
school children.
TrustPower Community Relations Manager, Graeme Purches, said TrustPower viewed the video several months ago, and
recognised its merits as a safety promotion for pre-school and early primary school children.
“Otumoetai College have done an excellent job producing this video, from the concept stage to actual production, and the
fact that it uses local children as actors makes it both informative and entertaining for small children. I used our
daughter and some of her friends to test how kiddies would respond to the video, and their reaction convinced me of its
merits.”
“We pride ourselves on being part of communities where we operate, and we took the view that this video would be an
excellent resource for schools, kindergartens, pre-schools and parents in the areas we serve,” Mr Purches said.
TrustPower purchased 100 copies of the video which, over the next few weeks, will be donated to public libraries in
regions where the company operates around New Zealand. Places where the videos will be distributed to include Tauranga,
Rotorua, Taupo, Wairoa, Whangarei, Dargaville, Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Thames, Matamata, Morrinsville, New Plymouth,
Wellington, Blenheim, Nelson, Ashburton, Timaru, Wesport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Queenstown, Wanaka, Alexandra, Balclutha
and Dunedin.
ENDS