Tana Umaga for Prime Minister?

Alan Duff Charitable Foundation Books in Homes

Friday 18th June 2004

Tana Umaga for Prime Minister? Well Helen Clark Thinks He Should Stick to What He's Good At!

When 11 year old Jessica Pokotoki wrote a story about how she believed her hero, NZ All Black Tana Umaga, should be New Zealand's Prime Minister, she would have never guessed that a year later she would be actually meeting her idol!

On Thursday this week, the Alan Duff Charitable Foundation (Books in Homes) launched their annual children's anthology Tikity-boo, of which Jessica's story was a part. Books in Homes flew Jessica up from Invercargill to meet her hero Tana so she could tell him face to face just how fantastic he would be as New Zealand's Prime Minister.

Later in the evening whilst launching Tikity-boo! at Whitcoulls Botany Downs, Prime Minister Helen Clark stated in response to Jessica's story that perhaps Tana should stick to what he's good at doing, which is playing rugby, and that she would stick to what she was good at, which is running the country. "Besides," she commented "the country needs Tana doing what he is good at on Saturday night." And the Prime Minister will be at Eden Park on Saturday night to make sure he does just that.

Tikity-boo! is an anthology of children's writing and illustrations produced annually by Books in Homes and published by Learning Media.

The Alan Duff Charitable Foundation Books in Homes Programme was established in 1995 by Once Were Warriors author Alan Duff. The aim of the programme is to create a more literate and employable society by 'breaking the cycle of booklessness' in New Zealand's lowest socio-economic areas. From its early beginnings of 80 schools, 16,000 students, and 14 sponsors, the Programme has grown to encompass 441 schools, over 80,000 students, and approximately 198 sponsors.

ENDS

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