SPECIAL SOUNDS OF ANZAC ONLY ON MĀORI TELEVISION

24 April 2008

The last surviving member of the legendary Kiwi Concert Party of War World II will join performers from Invercargill, Nelson, Rotorua and Auckland on the special ANZAC karaoke show HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI screening as part of Māori Television’s all-day broadcast tomorrow – Friday April 25 – at 8.00 PM.

Les Andrews was a member of the unique touring troupe of entertainers known as the Kiwi Concert Party, a military unit of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force whose programme of songs, comedy skits and serious music earned the respect and affection of Allied Forces in North Africa and Italy. Now aged in his nineties, Andrews is the maestro of the silver tonsils with a career spanning more than 60 years as a singer, songwriter, radio and television host, producer and entrepreneur.

Wannabe stars auditioned in Invercargill and Auckland for the ANZAC Day music show – to be fronted by Te Hāmua Nikora from Māori Television’s Auckland studio – and will perform songs that hold special ANZAC significance for them. They include: Joannie Ngutamangaro, Shannon Rua Moko, Andrew Hatton, Joe Slade and Shaila Pikia-Slade (all from Invercargill); William Fairburn (Nelson); Matthew Wepa (Rotorua); and the quartet, ‘B4 and After’ of Michael Pule, William Havealeta, August Cowley-Lupo and Ofa Fakatoumafi (Auckland).

Be a part of the ANZAC magic – with the HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI ANZAC SPECIAL – live on Māori Television on Friday April 25 at 8.00 PM. Text ANZAC to 3553 (text messages cost 20c each) to book your 5.45 AM wake-up text on ANZAC Day. Viewers can e-mail their feedback to anzacday@maoritelevision.com during the 18-hour broadcast Ā TĀTOU TAONGA: ANZAC DAY 2008 this Friday April 25 or watch the coverage live on the website www.maoritelevision.com.

Ends

Vanessa Horan
Kaiwhakahaere Whakapā
Communications Manager
Māori Television
DDI: +64 9 539 7159
MOB: +64 21 928 007
EML: vanessa.horan@maoritelevision.com