Australian 'Sunrise' on the snow

Australian dance and pop group Justice Crew, which will perform live from Queenstown next Friday...
Australian dance and pop group Justice Crew, which will perform live from Queenstown next Friday morning during a live broadcast by Australian breakfast show Sunrise. Photo by Sie Kitts.
Australian television audiences will be given a bird's-eye view of Queenstown next week when Channel Seven's Sunrise breakfast programme broadcasts live from the resort.

It is the first time in more than three years the entire programme has travelled overseas and it will be the first time it has come to New Zealand.

Now in its 11th year, the programme reaches an average of 3 million viewers weekly.

Executive producer Michael Pell said the team was looking forward to its trip.

''The stage is set for two adrenaline-fuelled days of Sunrise and each of our presenters has a winter challenge to complete while we're there.''

Filming would include Skippers Canyon, Amisfield and the Minus 5 Ice Bar, along with weather crosses from Monday from locations including Mt Hutt, Tekapo, Mackenzie, the Remarkables and Wanaka.

The show will broadcast from Coronet Peak on Thursday morning with hosts David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Natalie Barr, Mark Beretta and Edwina Bartholomew. New Zealand-born winner of Australian Idol Stan Walker and Ginny Blackmore will perform their single Holding You.

Coronet Peak ski area manager Ross Copland said the duo would perform at 10.30am from a stage at the top of the beginner's area on the mountain.

''We're inviting locals, visitors and young fans from Queenstown and all around the region to come along, enjoy the free performance and experience this rare live broadcast on the snow.

''We'll have an area especially set aside for those fans to watch the Sunrise broadcast and the performance.''

People were reminded to ''dress warmly and wear appropriate footwear for the snow'', he said.

Mr Copland said the value of screening live from Coronet Peak to Australia was ''almost immeasurable''.

On Friday, Sunrise would broadcast from Novotel Queenstown Lakeside on the shore of Lake Wakatipu, where Australian dance and pop group Justice Crew would perform its biggest hits live, including its latest single Que Sera. The public were welcome to attend.

The partnership between Tourism New Zealand, Accor and Channel Seven was secured through TNZ Australia and followed TNZ's launch of its ''More magic in every day'' winter advertising campaign, designed to encourage more Australians to discover more ''winter magic adventures'' in New Zealand.

TNZ Australia general manager Tony Saunders said it was a ''huge coup'' to secure filming of the show from Queenstown.

It would motivate Australians ''to discover a broad range of winter activities as well as reinforce how accessible we are to Australians,'' he said. The broadcasts will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Queenstown Winter Festival, which will be officially opened on Friday night.

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