An orange glow will light up across Aotearoa on the evening of 13 June, as 63 iconic Kiwi landmarks show their support for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, the nation’s largest youth fundraising event.

This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealand’s most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world.

This year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging rangatahi to give up technology and go “offline for 40 Hours” to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their friends and whānau while completing a challenge to raise funds for children who struggle to get enough to eat each day due to climate change in Solomon Islands.

World Vision Associate National Director, TJ Grant, says young people today live very “online” lives and that means going offline for 40 hours is the ultimate challenge.

He says World Vision New Zealand surveyed participants who did the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge last year and half of the survey participants said a “no tech” challenge would be the most difficult challenge for them.

Some of the key monuments lighting up in Auckland during the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June) include Eden Park, Spark Arena, Vero Centre, Sylvia Park, and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre.

Other key monuments lighting up across Aotearoa, include Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson, and Queens Park in Invercargill.

Unique and iconic landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland’s Maritime Museum, and the corrugated iron Sheepdog in Tirau.

Grant says he’s overwhelmed at the number of landmarks supporting this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge.

“The challenge young Kiwis are taking on during the campaign weekend will help to raise funds that will feed families in Solomon Islands who are on the frontlines of climate change. Funds will give families tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate.”

Owner of Vero Centre, Kiwi Property, says, “We are proud to support World Vision’s 40 Hour Challenge by illuminating the iconic Vero Centre halo in orange this June, helping to raise awareness for this important cause.”

The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13 – June 15. Sign up to take part in this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, or donate, at: 40hour.org.nz

The full list of landmarks lighting up orange on 13-15 June includes:

Arrowtown: Lakes District Museum & Gallery

Ashburton: Clocktower

Auckland: Eden Park, Spark Arena, Maritime Museum KZ1 boat, PWC Tower, Vero Centre, The Aotea Centre, Sylvia Park, Dominion Road, St. Peters Church (Onehunga), and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre

Christchurch: Christchurch Airport, The Botanical Gardens, The Bridge of Remembrance, New Brighton Pier, Captain Scott Plaza, The Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square), Vaka a Hina, Memorial Gateway Bridge, Christchurch Town Hall Ferrier Fountain, Fanfare Sculpture, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū

Cromwell: Big Fruit

Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Airport, Golden Centre Mall (digital screens), Tuhura Otago Museum, Wall Street Mall, Otago Boys High School

Gisborne: Gisborne Clock Tower

Invercargill: Queens Park (Feldwich Gates, Band Rotunda, and Gala Street Fountain)

Napier: The Gold of the Kowhai Sculpture and Tom Parker Fountain

Nelson: Saxton Oval Pavilion

New Plymouth: New Plymouth Clock Tower

Oamaru: Oamaru Opera House

Ohakune: Big Carrot

Palmerston North: Hopwood Clock Tower

Tauranga: Wharf Street Lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, Waterfront- North and playground, Tunks Reserve

Te Aroha: Clock Tower

Tirau: The Big Sheep Dog

Waitaki: Craig Fountain

Waitoma: Tree of Light

Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Cable Car tunnel, Wellington Airport, Kelburn Park Fountain, Hikitia, Nga Kina sculpture and Promenades, Queens Wharf sails shades

Whanganui: Royal Whanganui Opera House (Whanganui), War Memorial Centre

Whangarei: Whangarei Airport, Victoria Canopy Bridge, Kotuitui Whitinga

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