The Edge ‘Hug A Ginga – Day Off’ will be held on Friday, May 25. Rather than just a ‘hug’, New Zealand employers, teachers, parents, even personal trainers can show their support and appreciation for redheads by giving them the day off.

A day off work, home work, PE class, doing the dishes, the gym, filling the water cooler, making lunch; whatever it is, The Edge is calling on the nation to embrace redheads.

The Edge ‘Hug a Ginga Day’ was created to raise awareness of Ginga bullying and to give Gingas everywhere a day of love and celebration.

“It’s about showing Gingas some appreciation and making them feel proud of their flaming locks,” says Leon Wratt, Programme Director of The Edge.

theedge.co.nz has ‘Day Off’ ideas and permission slips available for redheads to print and use.

“I think it should definitely go through, I think it’s amazing”, Sarah a flaming redhead told Jay-Jay, Mike & Dom.

If people still wish to hug a Ginga, “please hug responsibly,” says Dom Harvey from The Edge. “You can watch our Hug A Ginga etiquette video at theedge.co.nz.”

On Friday, May 25 The Edge ‘Hug A – Ginga Day Off’ stations will be set up across the country in 17 locations, where redheads can go and receive some Ginga love (just in case they don’t get the day off anything)!

Mastin is in New Zealand on a quick media tour, following TV3’s screening of The X Factor Australia final on Saturday night.

When he popped in to The Edge studios for an interview with Jay-Jay, Mike and Dom, Mastin was greeted by hundreds of screaming fans, many of who were then invited in to The Edge offices to meet the 17-year old star.

Some listeners had been waiting since 5am for his arrival. Joanne said “it was an honour” to meet him, while Baylee and Abbey, a couple of the lucky listeners to talk to him, said “he seems so nice and down to earth and he’s so sexy”!

To keep fans happy Mastin will be back in The Edge studio at 8pm tonight to host the Top 20 with Brad and Marty. He has also told The Edge he’ll have “a very special announcement ahead of his tour to New Zealand in April.” He is also dropping by the TV3 studios this afternoon for a live appearance on FOUR Live which will be broadcast at 5pm.

Mastin will be bringing his unique rocker style and infectious performances to Wellington’s TSB Arena on April 12 and Auckland’s Vector Arena on April 14.

To see New Zealand’s Reece Mastin ‘pandemonium’ be at The Edge studios, Level 1, Fountain Court, corner St Marys and Jervois Road’s, Ponsonby from 8pm tonight.

- The Edge

Tomorrow morning (Thursday, September at 8am, people all over New Zealand will gather together for a simultaneous pash.

Everyone who turns up to their local Edge ‘pash station’ for a pash goes in the draw to win a trip to the legendary Club Pasha in Ibiza to see David Guetta live.

The Edge ‘pash station’ locations are:

Northland – Cameron Street Mall
Auckland – Victoria Park, bottom of College Hill
Waikato – Garden Place (opposite SkyCity)
Tauranga – Outside Amcal Faulkners Pharmacy, 398 Cameron Rd
Rotorua – Rotorua City Focus
Gisborne – Gladstone Rd/Bright St intersection
Taupo – Hole in One on the Lake Front
Hawkes Bay – Clive Square
Taranaki – Puki Ariki Landing – Windwand Carpark
Palmerston North – The Clock Tower, The Square
Wellington – Cuba Mall
Nelson – Bottom of Church steps (top end of Trafalgar St)
Christchurch – CBS Canterbury Arena Ground
Dunedin – Alhambra Union North Ground
Queenstown – The Village Green
Southland – Gala Street Reserve
Blenheim – Seymour Square

- MediaWorks

EDGEtravaganza will be the very first full scale music event to rock Claudelands Arena – Hamilton’s brand spanking new 6,000 capacity arena.

“We are so excited to be bringing such a large scale event with an amazing line up back to Hamilton and in a brand new venue” says Leon Wratt, The Edge Programme Director.

EDGEtravaganza, an amazing day out, at an affordable price with tickets on sale this Thursday 9th June at 9am from ticketek.co.nz.

THE ILLEGAL MUSIK SHOWCASE kicks off the day mid-afternoon, showcasing the cream of NZ R&B and DJ talent. Featuring Vince Harder, Erakah, DJ CXL (top NZ DJ & DMC mix champ) and various Illegal crew shenanigans.

AVALANCHE CITY have charmed their way into everyone’s hearts with their irresistable #1 single Love Love Love and debut album Our New Life Above The Ground. Jumping almost instantly from an internet release to topping the sales and radio charts, they’re one fresh out of the box!

ZOWIE is one of the biggest Kiwi overseas success stories of the year. Recently touring with Mark Ronson and as the main support act on Katy Perry’s sold-out tour across Australia and New Zealand, Zowie’s zeitgeist, cool, electro-pop is on its way to H’town.

THE POTBELLEEZ have to be seen to be believed. Famed for their legendary live shows, these Sydney based, electro-housemeisters are veterans of major festivals and devastating hands in the air live performances. Having just completed Usher’s tour, playing to over 200,000 people, they’re on a career high, fully primed and armed with a brand new album. ‘Destination Now’ is its name and these masters of the dancefloor are heading one direction only, straight to EDGEtravaganza!

KIDS OF 88 will be bringing the party. As always. With top tunes coursing through their veins, their global pop and arch disco anthems have taken them round the world. Winner of multiple NZ Music awards, support to Ke$ha on her European tour and named by Perez Hilton as ‘the breakout act of this year’s SXSW’ The Kids are an unstoppable force. Don’t be surprised if the roof comes off during My House, at the house of EDGEtravaganza.

THIRSTY MERC An overdue and most welcome return for one of Australia’s premier live rock bands – the undeniable and highly successful Thirsty Merc. Hot on the heels of their recent feel-good summer smash Tommy and Krista, Thirsty Merc have fond memories of NZ touring. With a reputation for first class live shows and one of the hardest working bands on the road, the Thirstys are guaranteed to have you singing your heart out at EDGEtravaganza.

STAN WALKER, phew, it’s only Stan Walker! New Zealand’s most popular performer, the Trans-Tasman artist of the last two years! Winner of Australian Idol 2009, Stan’s exceptional voice has taken over the airwaves and produced two chart topping platinum albums and multiple hit singles in both Australia and New Zealand. His trophy cabinet is bursting at the seams with music awards. He’s a phenomenon, a magical performer and an all-round great guy! With his excellent new single ‘Loud’, Stan’s bringing it all home and is sure to raise the volume to fever pitch at EDGEtravaganza.

MIDNIGHT YOUTH, one of New Zealand’s biggest rock bands in recent years will doubtless provide a rousing and anthemic finale to EDGEtravaganza. With an arsenal of hit singles (seven no less) and multiple awards for Best Rock Act and Best Band, there’s no disputing they’re the business when it comes to delivering the live ammunition. Recently seen rocking audiences in China, they’re the band with the big songs to finish and they’re all fired up to send EDGEtravaganza off with a bang.

Come and join us for EDGEtravaganza, the very first full scale music event to rock Claudelands – a huge celebration filling the arena for the first time with the glorious sound of music history in the making.

- MediaWorks

The Edge’s “Puppy or Pound” competition asks applicants to state why they would be a good owner of ‘Bella’ a 17 week old Shitzu Spitz cross which had been gifted to breakfast host JJ Feeney by an Auckland pet store.

One former listener emailed Dan News saying “This is absolutely disgusting.  In such a high profile arena to be advertising their lack of commitment to a pet as a ‘competition’ is downright disgraceful. Responsible pet ownership is such an important campaign in itself and yet they have completely disregarded this.”

Some posts on Facebook defend the competition saying they will continue to listen to The Edge “no matter what”

What do you think of the competition?

Over the last few days the eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland has been leading news bulletins around the world, but few have managed to pronounce the name of the volcano correctly or even attempt to do so.

I thought this effort was worth a gold star. Listen below:

Best Music Breakfast Show – Metropolitan
Jay-Jay Feeney, Mike Puru & Dom Harvey The Edge Morning Madhouse with JJ, Mike & Dom The Edge Network
Willy DeWitt, Dean Butler & Dean Young Radio Hauraki Morning Pirates Radio Hauraki Network
Roger Farrelly, Leah Panapa, Paul Ego & Simon Doull The Morning Rumble The Rock Network

Best Music Breakfast Show – Regional
Damian Newell & Nicky Hunt Breakfast with Damian and Nicky More FM Dunedin
John Markby & Angela “Flash” Gordon The Markby and Flash Gordon Breakfast Show 91.6 More FM Northland
Mark Bunting & Chris Lloyd Bunting in the Morning Classic Hits 98.6 ZHFM Hamilton
MikeWest, Gareth Pringle, Tania Burgess Rebecca Hardy – MikeWest In the Morning Manwatu’s 92.2 More FM

Best Music Non-Breakfast Host or Hosts – Metropolitan

Brad Watson & Sharyn Wakefield The Edge Nightshow The Edge Network
Carl Fletcher & Vaughan Smith Fletch & Vaughan The Edge Network
Jason Reeves Jason Reeves in the Afternoon The Classic Hits Network
Robert Taylor & Jono Pryor Robert & Jono The Rock Network

Best Music Non-Breakfast Host or Hosts – Regional
Daniel Weck Drive with Dan 93.4 More FM Tauranga
Estelle Clifford Day Show with Estelle Clifford More FM Northland
Lana Searle Lana Searle More FM Northland

Best Music Host or Hosts – Provincial
Andrew Leiataua Andrew Leiataua More FM Taupo
Clint Brown Brownie For Brekkie Times FM
Richard Dryden Richard Dryden For Breakfast Classic Hits 90.9 ZGFM Gisborne

Best Talk or Current Affairs Host or Hosts- All Markets
LarryWilliams The LarryWilliams Show Newstalk ZB Network
Mike Hosking Mike Hosking Saturday Mornings Newstalk ZB Network
Paul Holmes The Paul Holmes Breakfast Newstalk ZB Network

Best Newsreader
Hewitt Humphrey Radio New Zealand National
Kate Hawkesby Newstalk ZB
NicolaWright Radio New Zealand National & International

Best Coverage of a News Story
Radio New Zealand News Team Election 08 Radio New Zealand National
Radio New Zealand News Team US Election Radio New Zealand National

Individual Radio Journalist of the Year

Joy Reid Radio New Zealand National
Katy Gosset Radio New Zealand National
Monique Devereux Radio New Zealand National

Best Sports Presenter
Murray Deaker Scoreboard with Murray Deaker Newstalk ZB Network
Te Awanui Reeder Te Awanui Reeder Te Puutake Youth Radio Show

Best Commentator
Brian Ashby Radio Sport / Newstalk ZB
Jason Pine The Radio NetworkWellington
Nigel Yalden Newstalk ZB, Radio Sport Hamilton

Best Story/Event – Team Coverage
John McNeil NZ Medal Rush at the Beijing Olympics Radio Live
Malcolm Jordan Beijing Olympics Radio Sport & Newstalk ZB
Malcolm Jordan & Bryan Waddle Test Match Special Radio Sport & Newstalk ZB

BEST NEW BROADCASTER
Camille Guzzwell Classic Hits Wellington
Sarah van der Kley Classic Hits Rotorua
Tim Graham Radio New Zealand

Best Documentary or Feature Programme
Jack Perkins We Came for the Mountains and Stayed or the People’ Radio New Zealand National
Joy Reid Insight – Myanmar Documentary Radio New Zealand National
Justin Gregory EarthWorks Episode 1 “Sol Invictus” Radio New Zealand National

Best Daily or Weekly Series – under an hour duration
Adrienne Baron Appointment Radio New Zealand Concert
Colin Peacock Mediawatch Radio New Zealand National
Sue Ingram Insight Radio New Zealand

Best Daily or Weekly Series – one hour or more duration
Maree Corbett & MaryWilson Checkpoint Radio New Zealand National
Kim Hill & Mark Cubey Saturday Morning with Kim Hill Radio New Zealand
Geoff Robinson, Sean Plunket & Martin Gibson Morning Report Radio New Zealand

Best Dramatic Production
Adam Macaulay The Man That Lovelock Couldn’t Beat Radio New Zealand
Adam Macaulay The Moehau Radio New Zealand
Adam Macaulay The Raft Radio New Zealand

Best Music Feature
John Taylor Classic Hits Dream Concert Weekend Classic Hits Network
Tim Dodd Appointment: Houstoun & Chopin Radio New Zealand Concert
Tim Dodd & Marshall Walker North and South Radio New Zealand Concert

Best Recorded Live Music Event
David McCaw, Davide Morriss & Eva Radich Exploring Antartica Radio New Zealand Concert
Ian Bull, Graham Kennedy, Darryl Stack, Andre Upston,
Matt Thomson, Shannon McKenna
WOMAD Taranaki 2008 Radio New Zealand National and Radio
New Zealand Concert
Matthew Crawford & Kerry Stevens Opera in Concert: Salome Radio New Zealand Concert

Best Spoken/Informational Programme in Any Language
MatthewWills and Sonia Boyd Wheels On Fire Arrow FM
Naoko Kudo Japanese Downunder Plains FM 96.9
Ron Main Inclusion Fusion Fresh FM Nelson

Best Music Programme in Any Language
Leopold Bloom Quinteto Los Immorales Live Fresh FM Nelson
Gina & Mark Culpan Voices of Brazil Community Radio Hamilton
Simon Thomas Six Degrees Fresh FM Nelson

Best Single Commercial – Creative
James Dashfield TNT Space Mediaworks Radio
Jamie McAulay Bananas Up Southern Creative – Radio Network
Christchurch
John Martin Jubilee Motors – Extra Mile – 60 Radio Network

Best Jingle or Jingle Package
Gareth Curtis & Neil Jenkins McCallum’s Drycleaners Stooges Studio
Neil Jenkins & Gareth Curtis The Vic Stooges Studio
Steve Keats & Malcolm Smith Thin Lizzy Smith & Keats Music

Best Single Commercial – Effectiveness
James Dashfield TNT Space Mediaworks Radio
Neil Jenkins & Gareth Curtis You Can SeeWhere They’ve Been Stooges Studio
Sarah Sampson Always judge a pool by its cover Mediaworks Radio

Best Campaign – Effectiveness
Aaron Watkinson & Jason Mac Campaign of Comedy ‘Hot’ Radioworks Group Marketing
Carolina Simpson & Ronald Mackie Sue Hall The Radio Network
Ryan Andrews & Tim Homer “Shock Education” The Shock Shop Mediaworks Radio

Best Network Radio Promotion
Christian Boston ZM’s Lip Dub ZM Network
Robert Dickey, Stacy Taylor, Leon Wratt Wheel of Misfortune The Edge Network
Robert Dickey, Stacy Taylor, Leon Wratt, Will Maisey The Edge Next Top Friend The Edge Network

Best Individual Radio Station Promotion
Grant Millman, Damian Newell & Nicky Hunt Look MORE Good Naked More FM Dunedin
Jacinth Rowland & Jeff Mahon ZM Coruba Gold Summer Break 08 ZM Nelson
Kirstin Richards Bay Everyday More FM Bay of Plenty

Best Client Promotion
Anna Skinner 24/7 with The Phoenix XI The Radio Network – ZM Wellington
Kristy Craig Show Us Your Batman The Rock Network
Sarah Derecourt The Rock Hose Nurse The Rock – Mediaworks Radio Nelson

Best Promotional Trailer
Chris Nicoll Britney Spears ZM Network
Chris Nicoll The Timbaland Trip ZM Network
Kieran Bell Flava – T-Pain: Thr33 Ringz Album of theWeek Flava Network

BEST PROGRAMMER OF THE YEAR
Christian Boston ZM Network
Jason Pine The Radio NetworkWellington
Richard Jones More FM Northland

Metropolitan Sales Person of the Year
Ajeshni Raj Kumar Radio Tarana
Simon Marsh Mediaworks RadioWellington

Regional or Provincial Sales Person of the Year

Bernie Risbridger Mediaworks Radio Tauranga
Colin Thomson More FM Northland
Kerriann Ashworth Mediaworks RadioWaikato

Station Imaging
Chris Nicoll ZM Network Imaging ZM Network
Kieran Bell Flava Network Imaging Flava Network
Tom Cross More FM Imaging More FM Network

Commercial Production
Gareth Curtis McCallum’s Drycleaners Stooges Studio
Gordon Lundy Natures Curator Mediaworks Radio Auckland
Gordon Lundy TNT Space Mediaworks Radio Auckland

Studio or Outside Broadcast Recording
Adam Macaulay The Moehau Radio New Zealand
Andre Upston Salmonella Dub/NZSO Live@ Aotea Centre Radio New Zealand
Barry Hartley The Funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary Radio New Zealand

ASSOCIATED CRAFT AWARD
Aaron Anderson Radio 1xx & Bayrock
Debbie Baker NZ Radio Training School
Irene Strong RNZ Sound Archives
Lana Marston Radio NetworkWellington

One-Off Community Campaign
James Cooper Tamahere Firefighters Fund Mediaworks RadioWaikato
Natasha Skinner Make It Happen More FM Auckland
More FM Hawkes Bay Little Elms Charity Build More FM Hawkes Bay

Extended Campaign or Contribution
Cindy Davies More FM Dunedin More FM Dunedin
More FM Taupo More FM Taupo More FM Taupo

BEST MAORI LANGUAGE BROADCAST
John Simpson Kupenga Te Reo Irirangi O Te Manuka Tutahi Trust
Julian Wilcox Tawera Waatea 603am
Kingi Taurua Meremere Tu Ahiahi Waatea 603am

BEST EMERGING MAORI RADIO BROADCASTER
Kahi Stevens Te Reo Irirangi O Te Manuka Tutahi Trust
David Kaire Waatea 603am

BEST RADIO WEBSITE
Christian Boston & Matt Anderson www.zmonline.com ZM Network
Lee Gilmour, Michael Kooge, Kevin Nolan, Tom Jackson www.theedge.co.nz The Edge Network
Richard Hulse www.radionz.co.nz Radio New Zealand

Metropolitan Station of the Year
Newstalk ZB Network Bill Francis, General Manager Talk Programming
The Rock Network Brad King, Programme Director
Radio New Zealand National John Barr, Communications Manager

Regional Station of The Year
More FM Dunedin Cindy Davies, General Manager
More FM Northland Richard Jones, Programme Director
Manawatu’s 92.2 More FM Willie Furnell, General Manager

Provincial Station of The Year
More FM Taupo Penny Lyons, Manager
89.3 More FM Wairarapa Heather Lucas, General Manager
More FM Gisborne/Wairoa Scott McSloy, General Manager