Telethon: Money rolls in for needy kids

Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou has fond memories of emptying her piggybank to support telethons as a child. Photo / Herald on Sunday

New Zealand's first telethon for 16 years got under way in star-studded fashion last night.

Hundreds of people packed the Alinghi Base at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour as the 23-hour Big Night In kicked off.

Singers Gin Wigmore and Scribe performed in the first hour, with acts also taking to the stage at live broadcasts in Wellington and Christchurch.

By 11pm just over $700,000 had already been donated to the KidsCan StandTall charitable trust, which hopes the event will provide 30,000 children with food, raincoats and shoes.

Big names at the telethon, hosted by TV3 newsreaders Carly Flynn, Mike McRoberts and John Campbell, included Karl Urban, Martin Henderson, Richie McCaw, Greg Murphy and Monty Betham.

New Zealand's Next Top Model finalists and a swag of Shortland Street stars and other television personalities were also on hand.

Rove star Peter Hellier has taken part in Australian telethons and hoped people would get behind the Kiwi version. "There's always a really great energy. You can do something nice for people."

Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou was thrilled to be taking part and had fond memories of emptying her piggybank to support telethons as a child.

She was taking part in celebrity dares including a hip-hop challenge and tug-of-war.

"We're here for one thing and that's to raise money."

KidsCan general manager Julie Helson said the event cost more than $1 million to produce, but at least 87 per cent was covered by sponsors and in-kind support.

None of the donated cash would go towards TV3's production costs for the 23-hour broadcast, she said.

"It's the first time ever in the history of telethon that the event has been sponsored to a level where there's going to be a significant return," Helson said.

Provisional audited results were expected to be available by October.

The last telethon in New Zealand was held in 1993, raising $1.5m for the Starship Foundation.

Some features of past telethons have been retained for this year's Big Night In, including the Thank you very much song, which has been spruced up with a new recording by OpShop singer Jason Kerrison.

Today's highlights

Morning:

Sticky TV live from 7am to 9am, with celebrity guests including actors Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst, model Teryl-Leigh Williams-Bourke and Auckland Mayor John Banks.

Afternoon:

Tug of War between Shortland Street and Outrageous Fortune stars. All Blacks sausage sizzle cook-off.

How to get involved:

Auckland: Alinghi America's Cup Base (24 hours), 135-155 Halsey St, Viaduct Harbour

Wellington: St James Theatre (open from 9am), 77 Courtenay Place

Christchurch: Whitebait TV Studios (open from 9am), 41 Princess St

How to donate: Phone 0800 2640 2009 or visit bignightin.co.nz.