Media release – Monday 16th May 2010

Celebrity Debate This Thursday Offers Budget alternative

With talk of the Budget this week projecting such gloom for New Zealand, it’s time to look at the bigger picture.

Organisers of a Thursday night debate, on whether to federate with Australia, a fundraiser event for Wellington Special Olympics, are offering a humorous alternative reality, 6.30 pm at the Pines, Houghton Bay, Wellington.

With politicians, judge, professors and political commentators throwing themselves around the moot “Time for Newstralia: that New Zealand federates with Australia,” expect some healthy new options. Professor James Belich, the Hon. Lianne Dalziel, MP, Judge Bill Hastings for the affirmative face Greens Co-Leader Russel Norman, political scientist and commentator Jon Johansson and a “Very Special Guest” (yet to be announced) for the Negative Team. The debate is presided over by the Hon. Annette King, MP for Rongotai and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

Professor Belich said that Kwame Williams-Accra and Richard Parks, the two young athletes from Wellington selected for the World Games in Athens this year, were wonderful examples of how people overcome uneven odds with dignity and hope. “I’ve known Kwame since he was very little. He will be running for gold on the world stage and that to me, is very inspirational.”

A number of special items including a year’s supply of Havana Coffee, a Jeanne Macaskill painting and a signed cricket bat (with Martin Crowe, Richard Hadlee, Tana Umaga all together at last on one surface) will be auctioned on the night and food is being catered by a gourmet team. The evening starts at 6.30 pm, at the Pines, 50 the Esplanade, Houghton Bay, Wellington.

$35.00 tickets are available from Bron (+6427 6879408) or Margaret( +6421 667830). Donations to Special Olympics Wellington (email: * wellington@specialolympics.org.nz* , please, marked World Games Athens)

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