WHO WILL BE 500,00th PATRON AT WESTPAC?

The city's WestpacTrust Centre is expecting its half-millionth ticket holder early in May. To mark this occasion a prize package has been put together for this lucky person.

"We don't know the exact night at this stage," says Mike Kelly, Executive Director of NCC (New Zealand) Ltd which manages the venue, "but we're confident that it will be someone attending one of the two Smokefree Stage Challenge events taking place on 7 and 8 May at the WestpacTrust Centre. These are school-based events, which involve high school students who develop, choreograph and present their own stage productions. This is a great way to see young local talent in action and to have the chance of being the lucky person who takes away that celebratory prize." The package includes an Air New Zealand return trip for two to Queenstown, two nights accommodation with breakfast at a Parkroyal in Queenstown, $250 cash from WestpacTrust and a $250 Ticketek voucher courtesy of NCC (New Zealand) Ltd. "This is an exciting milestone to celebrate. The Council developed the Centre to be a multipurpose indoor stadium which could accommodate a wide range and style of events including concerts, trade exhibitions and sporting events, and since it opened its doors in September 1998 the venue has achieved this," says Cr. Ron Wright, Chair of the Council's Projects and Property Committee.

Highlight events held at the Centre include the World Netball Championships, Steffi Graf's Farewell Tour Tennis Exhibition, and Davis Cup Tennis, exhibitions such as TRENZ and the South Island Engineering Show and concerts such as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond and Tom Jones. That level of activity continues with the recent announcement of Robbie Williams in November, and TRENZ returning again in May this year. "The WestpacTrust Centre is a venue which can attract events which would otherwise bypass the city, and the people of Christchurch, who would miss the opportunity to see and experience international events. The high profile TRENZ tourism conference would not have come to Christchurch two years in a row if we didn't have the Centre to offer as its venue," says Cr. David Close, Chair of the Council's Strategy and Resources Committee. "Such events also attract large numbers of visitors from other parts of the country which has an economic benefit to the city as these people need food and accommodation, and often spend more time here."

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