By Tristram Clayton
The country's first telethon in 15 years will kick off tonight, aiming to raise two million dollars for children living in poverty in New Zealand.
People all around the country have been doing their part today to help prepare for the event.
Stuntwoman Zoe Bell's 192 metre plunge into a tub of yoghurt kicked off a day of telethon preparations around the country.
In Christchurch, a cultural festival at the local polytechnic had the gold coins rolling in.
As well as fun fundraising there were some serious rehearsals.
23 hours of non-stop TV, broadcast from across the country is a massive undertaking and every body was playing their part.
For 25-year-old Nightline presenter Samantha Hayes this year's telethon is not only the first she's helped present but it is also the first she can remember.
She says tonight’s telethon will see a look back to the old as well as some new differences.
Most notably there will be no pledging, people donating can call 0800 telethon with their credit card ready.
0900 telethon puts $20 on the callers bill or for 99c people can text 3999 and donate a dollar.
But the one thing that hasn't changed is the event's commitment to a good cause.
“The thing about the KidsCan charity is that it brings really tangible differences to children's lives,” says Hayes.
“I hear people say there's no poverty in New Zealand, but there really is. We have kids turning up for school that don't have proper shoes that don't have rain coats and that don't have lunches.”
Telethon 2009 will run from 7pm tonight until 6pm tomorrow.
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