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The original cast of the Wiggles with their three new members. - Source: ONE News
The Wiggles have announced the New Zealand dates of their farewell tour where the original cast will take their final bow before introducing three new members.
Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt are embarking on a world-wide Celebration Tour, kicking off their first of 11 NZ shows in Wellington on September 8.
They will conclude their New Zealand dates in Invercargill on September 23.
Now in their 21st year of performing to children, the group will play wiggly hits such as Hot Potato and Toot Toot Chugga Chugga, along with their other friends Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Feathersword, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus.
The group announced last month that three of the four members would pass on their colourful skivvies to new members at the end of the year.
Emma Watkins, a 20-year-old back up dancer for the Wiggles, will be the new yellow wiggle as the first female member.
Existing blue wiggle Field will also be joined by Lachlan Gillepsie and Simon Pryce to make up the new group of four.
"It's important that we plan for the future so that The Wiggles can keep wiggling in the years to come," said Murray.
The Australian group were once named as the country's top earning entertainers for four years in a row, earning up to $45 million a year.
The Wiggles last performed in New Zealand in April 2011 with replacement member Sam Moran, after yellow wiggle Page temporarily retired due to health reasons.
NZ tour dates:
Sep 8 and 9: St James Theatre, Wellington. www.ticketek.co.nz
Sep 10: Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North. www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Sep 12: TSB Theatre, New Plymouth. www.ticketmaster.co.nz
Sep 15 and 16: Vector Arena, Auckland. www.ticketmaster.co.nz
Sep 17 and 18: Founders Theatre, Hamilton. www.ticketek.co.nz
Sep 20: CBS Canterbury Arena, Christchurch. www.ticketek.co.nz
Sep 22: Regent Theatre, Dunedin. www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Sep 23: Civic Theatre, Invercargill. www.ticketdirect.co.nz