The Biggest Play Event Brought To Kids In Auckland

NICK BRINGS THE BIGGEST PLAY EVENT TO KIDS IN AUCKLAND WITH LET’S JUST PLAY!

Day-long event takes place at Grey Lynn Park, Auckland, on 19 March 2005 from 12noon - 5pm

Auckland, March 11, 2005 - Nickelodeon, the leading entertainment brand just for kids, plans to celebrate the joy of being a kid with its pro-social event, Let’s Just Play! in Auckland on March 19 from 12 noon to 5:00 pm, which is free and open to all kids and families. Let’s Just Play! is Nickelodeon’s grassroots initiative to empower kids to engage in active, healthy and playful lifestyles.

Nickelodeon will be converting the Grey Lynn Park in Auckland into a dream playground for kids featuring giant inflatables, climbing walls, skate ramps, slime-filled slides, splatter boards and more. For younger kids, the Rugrats Big Top will keep them entertained with activities such as Blue’s Clues-themed games, face painting, and clay sculpting. Simultaneous activities will be taking place at different play areas to entertain kids of all ages. Relay games and contests like Ginger’s Hacky Sack, Otto’s Frisbee Toss, Jimmy’s 3-Legged Blast, Catdog Push ‘n Pull, Hey Arnold! Skip, The Angry Beavers Egg Throw, and SpongeBob’s Patty Race will be featured at the Nicksplat Area. The day long event will end on a high note with live music by The Funky Monkeys, in a special concert that will keep kids grooving until 5pm. The event is hosted by Dennis Katsanos, and Chris Morley Hall.
On-line, a Let’s Just Play! micro-site www.nicksplat.com/letsplay features health and nutrition information, fun games to play and make at home, tips on sports, downloads, message boards, play ideas, information on the event event, and more!

“Play is an essential part of kids’ lives and we’re very excited to bring this event to New Zealand, following the huge success of it in the US., Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and the Philippines. Working with Hasbro and SPARC has made this campaign realize its goal of putting the fun back into play, and play back into kids’ days.” said Myra Moñozca, Regional Manager, Marketing and Communications, Nickelodeon Asia.

“Hasbro is delighted to be a part of Let’s Just Play!. We are pleased to be able to continue our partnership with Nickelodeon after the success of the recent Let’s Just Play! events in Singapore, Malaysia, India and the Philippines last year," said Hasbro’s Regional Head of Marketing, Mr David Peattie. "Hasbro encourages the experience of joyful moments as part of a child’s everyday life, and Play is the most fundamental part of their life. By playing, children of all ages discover the wonder of learning, the pride of achievement and the excitement of fun.”

Let’s Just Play! is sponsored by Hasbro and supported by Sky Television, Sports & Recreation Council (SPARC), St. John’s, and Sun Smart.

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About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon Asia, the leading entertainment brand dedicated exclusively to kids, is seen in over 180 million households throughout the region with 24-hour channels and programming blocks in India, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Korea, Hong Kong and China. Nickelodeon’s portfolio of branded businesses also includes websites (www.nicksplat.com , www.nickjapan.com ), mobile downloads, consumer products, as well as global sales and licensing of Nickelodeon programme franchises. Globally, Nickelodeon reaches a total of 281.8 million households in 158 territories worldwide via 31 channels, 21 branded program blocks, and 2 broadband services across Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim, CIS/Baltic Republics, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Programming is also aired on third party broadcasters in major territories around the world, increasing Nickelodeon’s exposure to 667.8 million households. Internationally, Nickelodeon’s businesses also includes music, publishing, interactive games, and Nickelodeon Movies. Nickelodeon is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc.

About Hasbro

Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

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