Telecom Tree returns with design-your-own light show
Media Release
November 18, 2010
Telecom Tree returns with a design-your-own light show
Wellingtonians will again have a special place to make their Christmas wishes with the return of the 27-metre Telecom Tree to Wellington, this year in a new location at Waitangi Park on the waterfront. They’ll also be able to design their own light show and watch it appear on the Tree.
Opening night is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday 30 November and visitors will be able to enjoy the incredible light shows from dusk each evening until Boxing Day.
Designed by The Lord of the Rings and King Kong Art Director, Joe Bleakley, the spectacular Telecom Tree is made up of over 375,000 lights, which provide 16 million possible colour combinations. Up to 200 people at a time can view the show from a space beneath the Tree.
Telecom is encouraging visitors to the Tree to bring gifts for children who will go without this Christmas. The gifts will be distributed around the country by Women’s Refuge – the official charity of the Telecom Tree - for the children to open on Christmas Day.
Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds says the Telecom Tree has been brought back to the Capital by popular demand.
“Wellington is renowned for embracing local events and last year we were thrilled that more than 80,000 people chose to visit the Telecom Tree. So this year we are delighted to be bringing back this unique Christmas experience to the Capital.
“Wellington City Council has been a huge support in helping us bring back the Tree this year,” says Mr Reynolds.
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown says: “The Telecom Tree brings a bit of magic to the waterfront and allows families to share Christmas through their gifts to Women’s Refuge.
“It was hugely popular last year and I think it will be the highlight of many family days out this year too in its new home in Waitangi Park. Telecom is also setting a great example in offsetting the emissions created by powering the Tree.”
Dedicated Santaline phone boxes at the base of the Telecom Tree allow children to ring the North Pole direct, with their voices magically activating the lights running from their phone box to the star at the top of the Tree.
This year, anyone can design their own light show and have it displayed on the Tree. Those keen to try their hand can log on to telecomtree.co.nz from launch night, follow the simple steps to create their design, and then choose what time they want it to play out on the Telecom Tree. All that’s left to do is to grab their family and friends and head to the Tree to watch their design light up the night.
For those who can’t make it to Wellington the nationwide toll free Santaline will be taking Christmas wish-lists from November 27 until Christmas day.
Last year more than 950,000 calls were made from right across New Zealand. Hopeful children will again be able to call Santa to tell him they’ve been good and what they’re wishing for on 0800 222 222. Or they can submit their request online at telecomtree.co.nz.
Visit telecomtree.co.nz for more information.
Where: Waitangi Park,
Wellington’s waterfront
When: From
30 November to 26 December with lightshows from dusk every
day, and extra special events on 30 November and Christmas
Eve.
Caption: The Telecom Tree in all its glory
ENDS
Further facts about the Telecom
Tree:
• The Telecom Tree’s height is
equivalent to a seven storey building
• From 375,000
lights, 37,000 LED bulbs can be programmed to create at
least 16 million colour combinations
• The Telecom Tree
lights are linked with 156 wires and 20,000 cable
ties
• The Tree takes seven days to build and requires
an 80 metre crane and a team of 15 people
• It was
designed by Joe Bleakley, the Art Director from King
Kong and The Lord of the Rings
Facts
about Santaline:
• Santaline has been
connecting Kiwi kids with Santa for 17 years
• Every
year, hundreds of thousands of Kiwi kids make calls to Santa
to
ensure he receives their wish list. Last year 953,661
calls were made
Telecom to offset emissions
Although lighting the Telecom Tree for the
month of December uses approximately the same amount of
power as a residential household, Telecom will offset the
greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation,
transmission and distribution of all energy used to power
the Tree. This will be made possible with the support of
Powershop, who will not only provide power for the Tree but
will also purchase carbon credits from Airshed Energy.