Thousands Register To Sink The F69

11 October 2005

Thousands Register To Sink The F69

The chance to sink former frigate F69 has caught the nation’s imagination with more than 90,000 027 customers registering to play Telecom Mobile’s Push the Button competition.

International interest is also keen with visits to the competition website from more than 40 countries, including an enquiry from a former F69 crew member sailing in the Adriatic.

The winner of the game to locate the virtual F69 will push the button that sinks the real F69 off Wellington’s south coast, to begin her new life as an artificial marine reef and diving attraction.

The F69, formerly the HMNZS Wellington, has been purchased by the F69 Charitable Trust which is preparing the ship to be scuttled.

In its new resting place beneath 26 metres of water, the 36-year-old former frigate will shelter marine life and enrich the surrounding waters by releasing nutrients as the hull slowly breaks down.

Telecom’s head of mobile marketing Kevin Bowler says 027 customers were quick to recognise what a unique opportunity was offered by the competition. “More than 90,000 registrations makes Push the Button even more popular than our Rock, Paper, Scissors game which was so successful earlier in the year,” he says.

“We’re really excited about putting one of our 027 customers and three friends at the heart of the action, and are delighted to be working with the F69 Charitable Trust.”

Registrations to play closed on 9 October, and the winner will be announced in early November.

As well as the grand prize for the winner, more than $150,000 of other prizes are also available including Sanyo 32-inch LCD televisions, Sanyo mobile phones, dive gear and courses, Microsoft X Box consoles and airtime credits.

See www.pushthebutton.co.nz for more details.

ENDS

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