Media Release
Date: Sunday, 8th March 2009

Kiwis Show Record Support For UNICEF Tap Project, Launching Tomorrow

A record number of restaurants and cafes around New Zealand are taking part in the UN Children’s Fund month-long Tap Project which kicks off on Monday 9 March. Diners will be asked to fork over $1 or more for every glass of tap water they normally enjoy for free -- but it’s all for a good cause.

UNICEF Tap Project Co-ordinator, Carolyn Shivanandan, says more than 260 restaurants and cafes around the country have signed up for the Tap Project, more than double last year’s number.

‘We are receiving an amazing response from restaurants and cafes, both in the major centres and smaller places. While large numbers are taking part in the larger towns and cities, there is also solid support in smaller places like the Bay of Islands, Cambridge, Matamata, Te Awamutu, and Te Kuiti in the North Island, and Motueka, Te Anau, Lake Tekapo, and Ashburton in the south.

‘We’re also fortunate that a number of major chains have joined the Tap Project, namely Robert Harris, Columbus Coffee, The Coffee Club, and Nando’s.

‘Part of this success is thanks to the hardworking band of about 30 volunteers who have been knocking on doors to enlist the support of their local restaurants and cafes.’

Ms Shivanandan says that the Tap Project raises funds for UNICEF’s life-saving water-projects in the developing world, with this year’s proceeds going specifically to Laos.

‘New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world blessed with an abundance of clean, healthy water. But some one billion people around the world – many of them children – don’t have access to clean drinking water and around 2.6 billion can’t access proper sanitation facilities.

‘The lack of clean and accessible drinking water is the second biggest killer of children under five worldwide. Nearly 5,000 children die every day as a result of water-related diseases including cholera, typhoid and malaria.’

Ms Shivanandan says the Tap Project is a simple and easy way for people to help the world’s poorest children. Just $1 can provide a child with safe drinking water for 30 days.

‘The Tap Project is a great opportunity for New Zealanders to make a life-saving difference to the lives of thousands of children.

‘We are thrilled with the enthusiasm and commitment of the restaurants and cafés that have already come on board, and now urge diners around the nation to do their bit.’

A host of New Zealand celebrities, including Mike McRoberts, Alison Mau, Jay Reeves and Amber Peebles are supporting the campaign. UNICEF is organising a number of water-related events during the month in conjunction with the Tap Project. Local councillors will be among those taking part in a water challenge on World Water Day (Sunday 22 March) which coincides with Wellington’s dragon boat festival.

An attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest ever simultaneous squirting of water pistols will take place at Western Springs Lakeside Park, Auckland (Sunday, 5 April, 11am-1pm). Participants can either bring their own water pistol or purchase one from UNICEF in return for a $2 donation.

A full list of participating restaurants and cafes, and more information about the Tap Project is at: www.tapproject.org.nz

ENDS

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