For immediate release 11 October 1999

NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS TO PERFORM FREE CONCERTS AT LOCAL MARKETS TO ENCOURAGE AUCKLANDERS TO ENROL TO VOTE

New Zealand artists including Che Fu and Lost Tribe will perform free concerts at two local markets this weekend to encourage Aucklanders to enrol to vote in time for the general election.

The concerts will be held at Otara on Saturday and Avondale on Sunday, providing Aucklanders with the opportunity to take time out from their shopping to enrol while being entertained. Electoral enrolment workers will be available at the concerts to provide enrolment information and encourage people to enrol on the spot.

Electoral Enrolment Centre (EEC) National Manager Murray Wicks said the concerts aim to get the enrolment message across to those eligible electors who have yet to enrol for the election.

“With only two weeks to go until the electoral roll closes for printing, there are still 152,000 Aucklanders who aren’t enrolled to cast a valid vote on Polling Day. We hope the concerts will be an opportunity to provide some of our ‘hard to reach’ audiences with enrolment information and an easy way to enrol.”

Along with Che Fu and Lost Tribe, Dei Hamo and The Dawn Raid Entertainment will perform during the concerts that will run from 9.30am-12.00 midday on each day.

Che Fu’s remixed version of the Bob Marley song "Get Up, Stand Up", featured as the theme song on this year's enrolment campaign television advertisements.

Che Fu said, "When approached to re-record Bob Marley's classic I was into it. Power to the people. It's important for us all to get up and enrol and stand up for our right to vote. Get up, stand up – it's as easy as that."

Mr Wicks reminded Aucklanders that they don’t need to wait until the concerts to enrol.

“Enrolling is quick and easy to do. Enrolment forms are available at Post Shops, by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56), or from the elections website at www.elections.org.nz.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media