JUDY BAILEY REPRESENTS NZ AT GALLIPOLI FOR ANZAC 2008

18 March 2008

Veteran broadcaster Judy Bailey will perform a dual role at the ANZAC Day commemorations in Gallipoli this year – as a reporter for Māori Television’s all-day broadcast and as the master of ceremonies at the dawn service at ANZAC Cove and the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair.

For the third year in a row, Māori Television will devote its entire schedule to New Zealand’s national day of commemoration on Friday April 25. Ā TĀTOU TAONGA: ANZAC DAY 2008 will include coverage of key ceremonies at home and abroad as well as veteran interviews, studio debates, short films and documentaries.

Bailey may be one of the country’s most experienced broadcasters but this will be the first time in many years she has reported from a far flung location and her first trip to the Gallipoli Peninsula – joining thousands from around the world who make their way there every year.

Arriving a week early, along with co-presenter Kim Webby, Bailey will be going behind-the-scenes to show what happens in the lead-up to ANZAC Day events as well as looking at how Kiwis get there, what they get up to and what motivates them to come “from the uttermost ends of the earth”.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” says Bailey. “I have always wanted to go there and experience it for myself. There’s so much that goes on that we don’t usually get to see so I’m looking forward to being part of it and sharing that journey with everyone at home.”

Bailey is also the MC for the combined Australian and New Zealand ANZAC dawn service at ANZAC Cove and the New Zealand memorial service at Chunuk Bair. “It’s an honour to be asked to be part of both services and Māori Television’s epic broadcast – this time from the other side of the world.

“It will be a big challenge but I’m really looking forward to it. It is a real privilege to be able to retrace the footsteps of those brave men and be part of remembering them on ANZAC Day.”

Ā TĀTOU TAONGA: ANZAC DAY 2008 will cross live to Bailey at Chunuk Bair soon after the conclusion of the Auckland dawn service at 6.35 AM before playing her behind-the-scenes report. Other Gallipoli material will play after 2.00 PM before live coverage of the ANZAC dawn service at Gallipoli. The Chunuk Bair service, also led by Bailey, begins around 9.30 PM.

Text ANZAC to 3553 (text messages cost 20c each) to book your 5.45 AM wake-up text on ANZAC Day. Māori Television is available on channel 5 on Freeview; channel 19 on Sky Digital and channel 6 on Sky UHF; and free-to-air on UHF or using a satellite dish and receiver. Viewers can call the helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 628 2868) for advice on how to tune in or go to www.maoritelevision.com for more information.

Vanessa Horan
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Māori Television
DDI: +64 9 539 7159
MOB: +64 21 928 007
EML: vanessa.horan@maoritelevision.com