NZ On Air Funds Children's Hospital

The hectic, sometimes harsh, but often inspirational reality of life in a South Auckland children’s hospital will feature in a major series brought to television with funding from NZ on Air.

Children's Hospital (working title) will be set in the new Kidz First Hospital, and will not only televise the dramas of daily life there but will also feature the hospital’s approach to community health care.

“The programme aims to highlight heart-warming stories that, as a spin-off, will convey many positive health messages to the community, “ said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jo Tyndall.

“It may also, indirectly, raise public awareness about the importance of how we nurture our children.

“The Children's Hospital series will deliver many strong stories featuring people from a diverse range of communities. Maori and Pacific Island people will fill important roles as real life characters in the series - as doctors, nurses and administrators as well as patients and family members, “ said Ms Tyndall.

Facilities at the new Kidz First Hospital include an emergency department with capacity to cater for 20,000 children per year, a short-stay treatment area, a surgical floor which includes a specialist burns unit, and a medical floor.

The hospital admits patients from all over the Counties-Manukau region, and faces the reality of confronting the needs of an ethnically diverse and sometimes less than affluent population - approximately 40 per cent European, 30 per cent from Pacific Islands and 30 per cent Maori.

NZ on Air will contribute $176,378 to Greenstone Pictures to produce 10 half hour episodes of Children's Hospital.

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For further information:
Jo Tyndall
Chief Executive
NZ On Air
Tel: (04) 382 9524
This media release is available on the Internet, at http://www.nzonair.govt.nz

Children's Hospital $176,378
10 x half hour programmes
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer: Andrea Hotere, Greenstone Pictures

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