NEWS RELEASE
28 October 2003
SLAPPING MACKEREL HAVE WILL TO LIVE
Cashmere High School rock band, “Slapping Mackerel” are the winners of a national music competition organised by
Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) as part of the recent National SADD Awareness Week.
The “Will to Live” Concerts, held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch featured NZ Hip Hop legend Mareko, TV
personality Pio Terei and local high school talent competing to take top honours. Bands were asked to deliver, through
original music, strong positive messages that would encourage their mates not to drink and drive.
SADD National Coordinator Chloe Johnston says she was very impressed by the calibre of the musicians. “Music is an
excellent way to get the drive sober, party safe message out to our target audience – the youth”.
Slapping Mackerel lead singer Matt Tuite is determined that the bands “drive sober” message is heard. “I know how upset
I would be if someone close to me was killed in a car crash just because some idiot decided to drink and drive. It's
really cool for Slapping Mackerel to be associated with such a good cause”, he said.
The group received a total of $5000 in prizes.
SADD is a national non-profit organisation governed by the NZ Automobile Association Driver Education Foundation.
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