Pageant pledge $1M

Press, 24 January 1984, Page 2

Pageant pledge $1M

PA Ashburton About $1 million would need to be pledged by the tourism industry if New Zealand was to be host to the 1984 “Miss Universe” contest, said the Minister of Tourism, Mr Talbot, yesterday. Pageant organisers from the United States, heads of

the New Zealand tourist industry including Mr Talbot, Chamber of Commerce, and Air New Zealand representatives met in Auckland last week. Mr Talbot is confident that the “Miss Universe” organisers will accept New Zealand’s offer, and he said he expected confirmation in a few days. “We offered them a figure for staging the show here and they seemed very keen to do so,” he said. The organisers have undertaken to consult their board in New York and

relay the decision within a few days. If the offer is accepted, New Zealand will have about a week to 10 days to raise $1 million. The actual budget is $3 million, with about $2 million of it in the form of pledges from businesses and Air New Zealand. One company has already offered a sports car valued at $90,000 for the winner and use of cars for about 185 contestants and officials. Air New Zealand has pledged big support, while Mr Talbot is still hopeful the producer boards will take part in a promotion.