Kiwis become NESCAFÉ Big Break semi-finalists

May 25, 2006

Creative Kiwis become NESCAFÉ Big Break semi-finalists

Fifty-five talented young Kiwis have today been named semi-finalists in this year’s NESCAFÉ Big Break programme with dreams ranging from becoming the next Trelise Cooper to breeding rare sheep for wool that will rival mohair.

They were chosen from more than 4000 entries from Australia and New Zealand for the NESCAFÉ Big Break programme which motivates 16 to 24 year olds to turn their big ideas into a reality by giving them the chance to score a cash injection.

One of the semi-finalists, Lucie Boshier from Kingsland, Auckland is an up-and-coming fashion designer following in the footsteps of her mentor Trelise Cooper. She is set to open her own store in Newmarket later this year and dreams of promoting her brand Lucie Boshier Couture at New Zealand Fashion Week and eventually London and New York.

Another finalist Hamish Black from Kurow, Otago has previously won two NESCAFÉ Big Break awards of AUD$2000. His business Chocolate Wool NZ supplies wool from two rare sheep breeds, Gotland and Karakul. The fleece has an amazing colour and feel making it ideal for the fashion industry. Hamish recently started exporting his wool to America and a further NESCAFÉ Big Break win would allow him to expand his business.

These aspiring Kiwis now join more than 400 trans-Tasman semi-finalists in the battle for the grand award of AUD$100,000.

The next step for the semi-finalists is to put pen to paper and submit a detailed plan of their idea. From the 400, only 14 finalists will travel to Sydney in August to present their big idea to a panel of judges. A cash award of at least AUD$4000 is guaranteed and a final six will win AUD$15,000 to help them with their dream.

The public of New Zealand and Australia will then have the final say by voting for their favourite AUD$15,000 winner. The grand award winner will receive another AUD$85,000 – bringing the top cash award on offer up to AUD$100,000. Public voting will begin on September 19.

This year’s NESCAFÉ Big Break prizes include eight awards of AUD$4000, five awards of AUD$15,000 and one grand prize of AUD$100,000.

Now in its seventh year in New Zealand, NESCAFÉ Big Break has awarded in excess of $255,000 to kick-start the ambitions of more than 24 young Kiwis in diverse areas such as technology, the arts, business, sport, fashion, design and agriculture.

The 14 finalists will be announced on the NESCAFÉ Big Break website www.nescafebigbreak.co.nz on Wednesday July 19, 2006.

ENDS

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