NESCAFÉ Big Break winners announced

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 1 October 2003

NESCAFÉ Big Break winners announced

Five young New Zealanders are today a step closer to seeing their dreams come true after learning they have secured at least AUD$2000 in NESCAFÉ Big Break.

A motorcycle racer, sharemilker, wildlife photographer and fashion design duo have been chosen as winners and are now off to Sydney in a bid to win an even bigger break of AUD$20,000.

Karl Morgan from Auckland, Nick Pemberton from Wyndham, Stephen Bradley from Akaroa and partners Amy Keegan and Jeneve Stewart from Christchurch will pitch their ideas against nine other potential AUD$20,000 winners in their age category.

The winners fly to Sydney this month to present their dreams to a judging panel which includes NESCAFÉ Big Break past winner, top NZ fencer, Sarah Raudkivi. There are two age groups - 16 to 19 year olds and 20 to 24 year olds. Six winners from each age group will receive AUD$20,000 and four runner-up winners AUD$2000.

Karl, Nick, Stephen, Amy and Jeneve were five Kiwi youths chosen from more than 8000 trans-Tasman entries.

A keen motorcycle enthusiast who has been racing since he was 13, Karl (16), needs a big break to become a world champion, in either the 125GP class, 600cc World Supersport class or MotoGP class.

Stephen (22), a passionate wildlife photographer inspired by Sweden's Mattias Klum and his book Borneo Rainforest, needs a big break to fund equipment to take him overland from Australia to Europe and hopes to ultimately work for National Geographic.

"I'm crazy about photography. When I found out I'd won I jumped up and down! The money will be fantastic to help fund my trip and develop my career as a wildlife photographer," says Stephen.

Nick 23, a dedicated dairy farmer, currently managing a 450 cow dairy farm, needs a big break to buy milking cows so he can further his career in the industry.

Amy (19) and Jeneve (21) both have diplomas in fashion design, are business partners and designers of fashion label mo-teef. The duo wants to take the label across New Zealand and ultimately go global.

"When we got the phone call yesterday I was speechless, it felt so surreal to have got this far. We are totally blown away. With the big break we can invest the money back into mo-teef - the label can go national, " says Amy.

NESCAFÉ Big Break is open to any young person with an innovative idea or special talent who needs a cash break to get them started. It's a unique programme in that it's not designed to be a high achievement award. It is about giving our young people the freedom to choose what they want to do with their lives and providing them with the cash to pursue their dreams and goals.

For more information on NESCAFÉ Big Break check out www.nescafebigbreak.co.nz http://www.nescafebigbreak.co.nz/ or call the hotline on 0800 430 043.

Released on behalf of Nestlé NZ Ltd by Porter Novelli New Zealand Ltd.

© Scoop Media