Christchurch Airport Control Tower ‘Lights up Purple’
in Global Prematurity Awareness Campaign

Some of New Zealand’s favourite iconic buildings are lending their support alongside international landmarks as part of a campaign celebrating World Prematurity Day on 17 November.

The “Lighting Up Purple” campaign is designed to raise awareness of the 15 million babies born prematurely worldwide each year. In New Zealand, the number is over 5,000 each year.

Amongst the participants is the Control Tower at Christchurch International Airport. The involvement is especially relevant as Christchurch is hosting the National Neonatal Nurses Conference 11- 13 November. In addition to celebrating World Prematurity Day, the tower is illuminated purple in support of the conference, to welcome conference delegates.

Yvonne Densem of Christchurch International Airport Limited says “Christchurch Airport is well known for using its unique illuminated walls to focus public attention on great causes. At the moment, the Tower is proud to be one of the world’s landmarks lit purple to show support for World Prematurity Day, as well as Christchurch hosting the National Neonatal Nurses Conferences this week.”

Based on 2013 figures, approximately 800 babies pass through the Christchurch Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) each year.

Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre, Auckland’s Holy Trinity Cathedral and The Mountain Fountain on its grounds, New Plymouth’s Clock Tower and the Oamaru Opera House are other examples of landmarks that will be illuminated purple as part of the eye-catching global campaign.
Past international participants include the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls and the Trevi Fountain.

New Zealand’s celebration of World Prematurity Day is being led by The Neonatal Trust New Zealand, a non-profit organisation that supports families with premature or sick babies in neonatal units, neonatal care units in hospitals and neonatal medical research.

In New Zealand, a premature baby is born every 90 minutes. That means 5,000 babies or ten percent of all babies born each year go through a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

Executive Director of The Neonatal Trust, Neil O’Styke, says, “The charity works to support neonatal families as they make their journey through the NICU, the transition home and onwards”.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive and the willingness of these incredible landmarks to get involved. It’s just another example of the incredible support the New Zealand community gives charities.”

The Neonatal Trust executive director Neil O’Styke says many New Zealanders are personally affected, or have friends and family, who have experienced premature births or had a sick baby require specialist care.

“Every 90 minutes, a baby is born premature in New Zealand. That’s one in 10 babies,” he says.

“It’s an issue which affects a significant amount of our population, and we are excited to see the New Zealand community get behind our campaign”.

ENDS

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