PAC: Vodafone NZ to make amends for streakers

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PAC: Vodafone NZ to make amends for streakers

WELLINGTON, Aug 9 NZPA - Vodafone New Zealand is set to make amends for a publicitystunt that backfired during the Bledisloe Cup rugby match between the All Blacks and Australiain Sydney last Saturday.

The company will publish full-page apologies in newspapers around the country tomorrowand also donate $NZ100,000 ($A85,560) to the government campaign for the prevention ofsports injuries.

Vodafone New Zealand managing director Tim Miles said the company accepted many peoplewere upset about the incident involving two streakers.

"It was an inappropriate prank and if Vodafone New Zealand had known about it, we wouldhave put a stop to it," Miles said in a statement.

"Everyone here is very disappointed about what happened and we want to apologise tothe All Blacks, rugby fans, our customers and all of New Zealand."

Vodafone, sponsor of the Australia team, admitted this week it had unwittingly encouragedplans for the public relations stunt ahead of the Bledisloe Cup match.

Two men wearing nothing but the phone company's logo ran on to the field just as AllBlacks first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens was preparing to take a penalty kick which hemissed when play resumed.

The company said it did not know the two men would do anything illegal.

Australia won 16-14 to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Police are still considering whether any action will be taken against Vodafone.

NZPA las

KEYWORD: TRI STREAKERS