TVNZ replies:

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 590, 13 June 1995, Page 4

TVNZ replies:

The 1995 Smokefree Stage Challenge which screened on TV2 was a different competition from the eight regional Smokefree Stage Challenge competitions held around the country. It was not the national final of these competitions and was not advertised as such. As Matty J, the presenter of the television 1995 Smokefree Stage Challenge stated, the competition was for the best television performance. The judges in the television competition picked six finalists from the 65 schools which entered. Their decisions were based entirely on viewing video tapes of the 65 performances. The judges were not present at any of the regional venues and were not aware of which schools had won the regional competitions. The six finalists for Best Television Performance were chosen for their television presentation, not because they were regional winners. Although the producers would have liked to give all the schools \yho entered the competition a chance to be televised, it was impossible to include all 65 entrants within a one hour programme. However, every effort was made in the production of the 1995 Smokefree Stage Challenge to include as many schools as possible. Highlights of other performances which stood out for their make-up and wardrobe, staging, lighting, choreography and teamwork were shown between the finalists.

Jessica

Farrell

, Public Relations, TVNZ

THE BULLETIN SAYS: It seems someone let Ruapehu College down, if not TVNZ. The school was under the impression that the programme was to be the national finals. It seems odd that out of 65 entrants the six lucky "best television performers' were also six of the eight regional finals. If the programme wasn't the national finals, are there to be any other finals?