N.Z. Week in Expo highlights show

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 19

N.Z. Week in Expo highlights show

Just over half-way through World Expo 88, more than 8 million visitors have surged on to the sunny Brisbane site. Tonight at 7.30 on Two there will be a highlights programme of the first three months of Expo, ending with coverage of New Zealand Week.

This hour-long special will include all the most popular items from reporters Mark Leishman, Nick Tansley and Robyn Pennington, and will be introduced by radio and television personality Roger Gascoigne. “This is the only opportunity most of us will get to see an Expo and I want to reflect our representation over there,” Gascoigne says. “We’re pretty neat people and we just need a bit of reinforcing that this is the case.”

The “best bits” part of the programme will feature some of the 6000 performances by Expo entertainers, with a special contribution by Canadian juggler Derek Scott. There

will be footage from “Australian of the Year” singer John Farnham’s re-cord-breaking appearance at the Expo Riverside stage. Featured also will be action from inside some of the 40 different pavilions, dancers from all over the world, including the stunning Korean drum dancers, the aquacade and waterski spectacular, restaurants, comedians and the World Fun Park

roller coasters. An item in which reporter Nick Tansley tries to become an instant recording star will be repeated by popular demand.

Coverage of New Zealand Week at Expo will include New Zealand Day (August 17), the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa concert, and all the activities surrounding the New Zealand pavilion. Another highlight of the programme will be snippets of “oNZtage,” the 90minute, high-energy stage show presenting a pastiche of New Zealand music in all its variety.

New Zealand’s character is reflected through the songs — both Maori and European — which cover several centuries; from traditional Maori canoe songs to contemporary music. Fifteen young singers and dancers, mostly under the age of 20, are joined on-stage by a group of jazz/rock musicians for the Riverside Stage spectacular.