Tataurangi Supports Youthline

For immediate release
Tuesday March 16, 2004

TATAURANGI SUPPORTS YOUTHLINE

Leading New Zealand golfer Phil Tataurangi has demonstrated his commitment to the country's young people by making a financial contribution to Youthline.

"I spend eight or nine months of the year in the United States and was touched on the last trip home by the need for New Zealand youth to have more support, which is why I chose to donate to Youthline," he says.

Tataurangi says he feels particularly blessed by his career as a golfer, and the injury worries he faces pale in comparison to what many people go through every day.

Tataurangi visited Youthline House in Ponsonby recently and said he was impressed by the organisation's accessibility to young New Zealanders. "It was very encouraging to see the extent of Youthline's services to the community, including the 0800 phone counselling and the websites." Youthline director, Stephen Bell says the organisation's underlying goal is to assist communities and families, thereby supporting their young people.

"Contributions like Phil's help us reach more communities and more young New Zealanders," he says. "We are currently setting up a 24/7 telephone counselling network and require more counsellors. Phil's donation will help with the training and technical costs of providing this service." Phil and his wife, Melanie delight in bringing their son Kahu, aged three, back to New Zealand and plan to one day return permanently.

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