Kilts, Rugby and Music: It’s the Botany Town Centre Military Tattoo

Neatly coinciding with key dates of the Rugby World Cup, Botany Town Centre is to host a Scottish Military Tattoo on 15, 16 and 23 October. The event honours the Scottish rugby team, which held practice sessions at the Pakuranga rugby club during its World Cup campaign.

On each of the three nights, from 5pm to 8.30pm, the town centre will come alive with live Rugby World Cup coverage, musical performances and street entertainment.

The free community event, intended for all the family, was put together by Military Tattoo Association President Sharon Stewart and is funded by the Trillian Trust, which provides funding to New Zealand organisations and groups with an emphasis on children, adolescents and lifesaving.

Kicking off each night’s events will be the Clan Wallace pipe band, which will march through the centre to play the main stage. Niklas Hansen, a talented young Pakuranga College singer, will perform the New Zealand national anthem and the Flower of Scotland, one of several unofficial Scottish anthems. The Uxbridge Creative Centre will present ‘Howick on Stage’, covers band Contagious will take the stage, and comedian Geoffrey Dolan will serve as MC and resident humorist.

The semifinals and grand final will play live and can be viewed at the restaurants and bars in Town Square, Botany Town Centre.

There will also be the opportunity to take home a souvenir – prizes will be up for grabs each night from local businesses – and food and beverages will be available for purchase from local eateries. The Howick Lions will also be holding a recruitment drive at the event.

Botany Town Centre senior marketing manager Desiree Clark says, “We’re delighted to be hosting this event and to bring sport and culture together for family celebrations. It’s a very exciting time for Kiwis, many of whom have Scottish roots, and a Military Tattoo is an opportune way to provide some great entertainment.”

In-centre activity during the three-day event will include the ‘Oranges at Halftime’ display in Town Centre Drive on 15 and 16 October. The free interactive exhibition provides viewers with a chance to explore the many different relationships New Zealanders have with rugby. See what rugby stars ate before the game, tell your own favourite rugby story to a video kiosk for Keith Quinn, or compete with your friends on rugby trivia. Funded by the NZ 2011 Festival Lottery Fund, the exhibition is part of the REAL New Zealand Festival.

Meanwhile, for the ever-suffering partners of the rugby-mad, Botany Town Centre is rewarding their support with a sale. Bargains can be found throughout the centre during the Last 80-Minute Sale on 23 October, from 1pm to 2.20pm.

More about Oranges at Halftime:
• Full name of the exhibition: Oranges at Halftime: Rugby and the Kiwi Experience;
• The REAL New Zealand Festival is happening nationwide and celebrates the things New Zealanders love most about New Zealand;
• The exhibition has been designed by both the National Science Technology Roadshow Trust and Eklektus Inc;
• Funded by NZ 2011 Festival Lottery Fund.

More on the Last 80-Minute Sale:
• The sale will run throughout Botany Town Centre from 1pm to 2.20pm on Sunday 23 October;
• Everyone who makes a purchase over $50 within the 80-minute sale time will go in the draw to win a $5,000 shopping spree at Botany Town Centre.

About Botany Town Centre

Situated approximately 19km southeast of Auckland, Botany Town Centre is one of New Zealand’s largest retail developments, with over 176 specialty stores. Its retailers range from Dick Smith Electronics to Rebel Sports and a full complement of banks, fashion stores, and New Zealand’s most popular café and restaurant chains. The centre includes one of Auckland’s largest Farmers stores and a New World supermarket. The centre provides diverse entertainment choices from the La Premiere at Hoyts Cinema to the award-winning Cock & Bull pub. In addition to its retail offering, Botany Town Centre is a community hub for other services including the Botany Library, the Community Constable, and a variety of medical and health providers.

ENDS

© Scoop Media