A free concert for earthquake-hit Cantabrians is to be held at Labour Weekend.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker says the concert in Hagley Park, dubbed Band Together, on 23 October is to celebrate the region's 500,000 people surviving a 7.1 magnitude quake by working together.
Funds will also be raised by collection and by a donation phone line.
Timaru-born New Zealand Idol judge Paul Ellis has joined with Christchurch-raised singer Jason Kerrison from the band Opshop to organise the gig.
Mr Parker says entertainers such as Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, Opshop and The Bats are some of the confirmed acts and more are joining all the time.
The concert will be simulcast on radio and television, and streamed live on the internet, he says.
A free concert by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Christchurch on Thursday is sold out.
Volunteers given free Metallica tickets
University student volunteers who helped clean up after earthquake have been rewarded with corporate boxes at Metallica concerts next week.
Student Sam Johnson organised volunteer brigades via the social networking site Facebook.
Mayor Bob Parker says Mr Johnson has been given 240 tickets to corporate boxes for Metallica's two concerts to share amongst the hundreds of student volunteers.
Mr Parker says having seen the responsibility and community-mindedness of the students he is not worried about having them in the corporate suites at CBS Canterbury Arena.
Another 60 tickets will go to emergency services staff and volunteers, he says.
