Earth Hour events in Christchurch

Switching off your lights and powering down for Earth Hour at 8pm this Saturday, 29 March, is just the beginning. You can join people celebrating their commitment to fighting climate change at Earth Hour events happening across the garden city.

· Cathedral Square – mingle with the crowds and experience Earth Hour excitement in the square from 7pm. At 8pm, watch the Cathedral’s lights go out for Earth Hour as Mayor Bob Parker counts down to flick the switch and mark the start of Earth Hour Christchurch. Lights around the square will be dimmed and there will be a free screening of film The 11th Hour.

· Free acoustic concert at the Dux de Lux – a free candle-lit acoustic concert at the Dux de Lux with (unplugged) music from local talent Lauren Mitchell. http://www.thedux.co.nz/

· Earth Hour candle-lit bars – head down to the Sol District to join Earth Hour celebrations, bars in the district including Toast and Cartel will be turning off the lights for Earth Hour.

Bars across the city will also be powering down with candle-lit celebrations including: Redjacks, Bailies Irish Bar and Restaurant, Excelsior Sports Bar, The Tap Room, Liquidity, Viaduct/Di Luso, Coyotes, Boulevard, The Tap Room, Liquidity, Ferment and many more.

· Earth Hour restaurants – restaurants across Christchurch holding candle-lit Earth Hour celebrations include: High to Hereford, International Food Hall, Asian & European Cuisine, The Raj Mahal Indian Restaurant, The Curator’s House and Restaurant, Spagalimi’s, Café Metro, The Lotus Heart, le Café and Annie’s Wine Bar and Restaurant in the Arts Centre, Le Plonk wine bar, Tulsi Contemporary Indian Cuisine, Strawberry Fare Restaurant, Café Valentino, The Cabbage Tree, Cook n’ with Gas, Denny’s, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Watershed Restaurant and Bar – and many more!

o Cornershop Bistro in Sumner, the Millennium Hotel and the Heritage Hotel, Cathedral Square are both going one step further with Earth Hour – as well as turning off the lights for candle-lit dining, chefs have come up with special Earth Hour menus that are environmentally-friendly - organic, locally sourced produce, with carbon-neutral wine.

For more information, http://www.cornershopbistro.co.nz/ and www.heritagehotels.co.nz/christchurch and http://www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/

o Two Fat Indians – Not only will people be able to dine by candle-light during Earth Hour this Saturday, you will be given a free candle with your Indian takeaway – and Earth Hour will see Two Fat Indians 'going green' from March 29 - no more plastic bags and using recyclable takeaway containers.

Earth Hour events across New Zealand

Celebrations for Earth Hour are happening across New Zealand!

· Langham Hotel, Auckland – the Langham Hotel is holding a free public event, extinguishing up to an estimated 3000 lights which will be replaced by thousands of natural, non-carcinogenic, paraffin (petroleum) and chemical free, non-toxic, bio-degradable, New Zealand made soy candles. The hotel will also be serving complimentary carbon-zero wine, and canapes from sustainable locally grown ingredients and tap water, to live jazz music.

· Auckland's Sky Tower switches off for Earth Hour – Auckland’s sky tower will be plunged into darkness at 8pm on Saturday in support of Earth Hour.

· Wellington City Council turns out the lights – Wellington’s Mayor Kerry Prendergast has backed Earth Hour will Wellington City Council turning out their lights for Earth Hour this Saturday. This is set to include the external lighting at swimming pools, libraries, recreation centres and other Council-owned buildings and the lights in the trees in Oriental Bay and Civic Square.

ENDS

About Earth Hour Christchurch
Earth Hour is a community event, led by WWF-New Zealand and The Press, and supported by Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury and Orion Energy, amongst others. It has the backing of ChristChurch Cathedral and the Employers Chamber of Commerce. All people and businesses can take part in Earth Hour by switching off their lights for one hour at 8pm on 29 March 2008. During Earth Hour people and businesses are also invited to turn off appliances from standby.

About WWF
WWF is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization. It has close to five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

What’s Your Next Step?
Earth Hour is just the beginning. You can find out how to live Earth Hour everyday at http://www.earthhour.org/ or by taking the What's your next step? sustainability challenge at http://www.sustainability.govt.nz/. The campaign challenges New Zealanders to take action to live more sustainably – from small easy steps that can begin today, to those that may take more time and investment.

Media information: Jenny Riches, WWF communications manager, 027 4477158