03/ 05/ 03 Third Prop to Beef Up Blues' First Home Game

A life-sized fibreglass cow sporting the number 3 jersey of Blues prop, Kees Meeuws will be supporting the team at this Saturday's Blues match against the Crusaders at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

Officially named "The Blues Moo", the team cow was specifically designed for the Super 12 rugby team as part of CowParade Auckland, the world's largest outdoor public art exhibition.

Unveiled on 5 March at Auckland Grammar School, the cow comes complete with intricately painted rugby shoes, a CanTeen bandanna wrapped around its head and bears the signatures of all team members. Its whimsical resemblance to the Blues prop player has prompted squad members to nickname the cow Kees Moos in his honour.

'The Blues Moo' was designed by Auckland artist Brent Nicholson and painted by members of CanTeen, the Blues' official charity team, which supports young people living with cancer by ensuring they do not face cancer alone.
The cow will accompany the team to all North Island games, making its debut at the Blues' first home game this Saturday.

"We are excited about having an amulet that displays our team's image and strength so well," says David White, Blues Chief Executive Officer.

"Mixing sport, art and our charity CanTeen has certainly been unique for us, with the 'The Blues Moo' definitely providing a great representation of this year's "beefed up" Blues team."

"The team from CanTeen have done a fantastic job creating the cow and the boys are looking forward to taking it on tour with them," says White.

"The Blues Moo" is one of 30 other cows currently on display around Auckland City. Other bovines include Buzzy Beef, fashioned after the New Zealand icon, Buzzy Bee; Mooving Up and JAFA, Just Another Fresian
Aucklander.

The painted and costumed cows will be on parade until April this year when they will be sold at a charity auction with the net proceeds benefiting the charity Youthtown.

CowParade Auckland follows on the back of successful CowParades in cities around the world including New York, London, Chicago and Sydney.

About CowParade
CowParade is the world's largest public art event. Beginning in Zurich in 1998, the event is continually growing in size, quality and creativity.

It's a chance for the city to come together to support art, culture and most importantly, charity.

After Zurich, CowParade mooved to Chicago (1999) and New York (2000) enjoying great success with more than 44 million people viewing the New York event. Oprah Winfrey even bought three cows at auction to graze on her ranch! Other cities to have hosted their own CowParade include Stamford - Connecticut, West Orange - New Jersey, Kansas City - Missouri, Houston - Texas, Las Vegas - Nevada, Montevideo - Uruguay, Ventspils - Latvia, London - England and Sydney - Australia. This year it's Auckland - New Zealand and Dublin - Ireland's turn!

CowParade Auckland represents an opportunity for local artists and businesses to work together on a very unique project. Companies "adopt" a
cow for the duration of the project and select a design from an extensive portfolio of ideas submitted by New Zealand artists, or create their own.

For further information contact:

Liz Smith, Marketing Manager
Heart of the City (CowParade Auckland organisers)
Phone: 379 8000

or

Pam Wong
Professional Public Relations
Phone: 09 979 2000

For information about getting involved in CowParade Auckland contact us at:
0800 UDDERS (0800 8333 77)
Or email us:
mailto:info@cowparadeauckland.net.nz

CowParade Auckland website:
www.cowparadeauckland.net.nz

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