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Kiwis give their all for UNICEF world record attempt

Sunday 5 April 2009, 9:43PM

By UNICEF NZ

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AUCKLAND

Fifteen hundred people took part in an epic water pistol battle in Auckland today that raised funds for and awareness of water issues in the developing world.

About 1,500 people of all ages gathered at Western Springs in Auckland to take aim at the Guinness World Record ™ for the world’s largest ever water pistol fight.

UN Children’s Fund spokeswoman, Carolyn Shivanandan, says that more than 2, 671 participants were needed to break the current world record, which was set in Spain in October 2007.

“Unfortunately we didn’t quite beat the existing world record, but we are really grateful to all the thousands of people, especially children, who turned out for what was a fun day for a good cause.

“Just over $2,000 was raised on the day to support UNICEF’s work with children. The event has also been a reminder of the serious water issues faced by the world’s poorest nations.

“The lack of good quality water is a significant issue in the developing world, where about 1 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water and some 2.6b don’t have access to proper sanitation facilities.

“The lack of clean and accessible drinking water is the second biggest killer of children under five worldwide, with nearly 5,000 children dying every day from water-related diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid and malaria.”

Ms Shivanandan says that UNICEF’s Tap Project, which is running in more than 300 cafes and restaurants around New Zealand until 9 April, is raising money for life-saving water projects in Laos. Water-related illnesses caused by poor sanitation and hygiene conditions are the second largest killer of children in the impoverished South-East Asian nation.

“If people missed out on taking part in the world record attempt, they can still support UNICEF by making a donation at a Tap Project café or restaurant, texting TAP to 833, or donating online at www.tapproject.org.nz”

Ms Shivanandan says the record attempt could not have gone ahead without the generous support of corporate partners Foleys Water and O’Brien Line Ltd, SPS Medics, Westin Hotel, and Intermediary Communications.