Semi-finalists announced in NESCAFÉ BIG BREAK

Semi-finalists announced in NESCAFÉ BIG BREAK

76 Kiwi youths are in with a chance to win AUD$50,000

After a nail-biting wait seventy-six young New Zealanders, including a physiotherapist who has designed an improved sailing trapeze harness, have been chosen as semi-finalists in this year's NESCAFÉ BIG BREAK programme.

Last year a motorcycle racer, a sharemilker and a wildlife photographer each took home AUD$20,000 to help make their dreams come true. This year for the first time a lucky Kiwi could get a Big Break of AUD$50,000 to kick-start their career thanks to NESCAFÉ.

Offering a total prize pool of AUD$205,000, Nescafé BIG BREAK is a unique concept that has been inspiring youth to chase their dreams for five years in New Zealand and the past 15 years in Australia. In this time, the programme has fuelled the careers of young New Zealanders and Australians in areas as diverse as technology, the arts, business, sport, science, education, agriculture and philanthropy.

The semi-finalists must now submit a detailed plan for their ideas in a bid to become one of 12 trans-Tasman finalists. The New Zealand finalists will then be flown to Sydney in August to present their ideas to a judging panel comprising Nescafé BIG BREAK past winners, where six will win AUD$25,000 and six will win AUD$5,000.

If a Kiwi is selected as one of the six AUD$25,000 winners, the New Zealand public can show its support by voting to help take their total prize winnings to AUD$50,000 - the first time public voting has been incorporated into the Nescafé BIG BREAK programme. As well as helping to make a young person's dream come true, voters will also have a chance to win a share in AUD$25,000 worth of prizes when voting opens in October.

Last year ace motorcycle racer Karl Morgan from Waitakere (Auckland); 23 year old sharemilker Nick Pemberton from Wyndham (Southland) and wildlife photographer Stephen Bradley from Akaroa (Banks Peninsula) each took home AUD$20,000 to help kick-start their dreams.

Nick, a dedicated dairy farmer who was managing a 450-herd dairy farm, won a NESCAFÉ BIG BREAK to buy more of his own milking cows and start building a herd. Since winning, he's been offered employment in places as far away as Scotland.

"It's every young farmer's dream to own their own farm and stock, and these days it's almost impossible unless you inherit land or money. Winning Nescafé BIG BREAK has really made my dream achievable," says Nick.

Nick has recently started a new position as a contract milker, which means more responsibility. He's self-employed, employs a worker and runs the farm all year round.

"NESCAFÉ BIG BREAK is about giving young people a helping hand to reach their dreams. The 'Big Break' is about letting you have the freedom to choose your own path, and providing you with some cash to chase those goals," says Nick.

Ends.

Finalists will be announced on the NESCAFÉ BIG BREAK website on Friday 6 August 2004.

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