The Giant ZM Advent Calendar

Media release for immediate use, Wednesday 28 November

AND THE AWARD FOR THE MOST CREATIVE USE OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS GOES TO....

Christchurch radio station 91ZM's taken full advantage of the abundance of shipping containers in the city post quake.

It's put together 24 of them to create one of the largest advent calendars in the world.

General Manager Andrew Britt says they wanted to bring some fun to the city.

"We live in a world of road cones, Fahey fences, dust and excavators. Shipping containers have become a common site around the city - propping up damaged buildings and protecting residents from the dangers of falling buildings and rocks. We thought we'd celebrate Christmas in unique Canterbury way by building an advent calendar out of them in the city’s new Christmas hub, Latimer Square."

The calendar is nearly 15 metres wide and just over ten metres high. It weighs 53,280 kilos...the same as around eight elephants.

"It's enormous," says Andrew Britt. "It is as high as a four storey building. Opening the containers each day will be a challenge involving a lot of muscle and a cherry picker. Fingers crossed there are no high winds."

Each morning one 91ZM listener will get the chance to open the container and win what's inside – there are over $50,000 worth of prizes in the GIANT ZM Advent Calendar. To win listeners need to register at zmonline.com.

ENDS

© Scoop Media