New Zealand's love affair with SHORTLAND STREET reached new heights last night when over 500,000 viewers tuned in to watch Valentine's Day civil union between lesbian couple Maia Jeffries (Anna Jullienne) and Jay Copeland (Jaime Passier-Armstrong) screen on TV2.

On what is traditionally the country's biggest date night, the show attracted a 79.5% share of women aged 15-29 years-old. This means a phenomenal 29.6% of all New Zealand women in this age group stayed at home to watch Maia and Jay tie the knot.

SHORTLAND STREET attracted an incredible 38.4% share of the 7pm television audience and a total audience of 530,563. The home-grown serial drama dominated the key demographics. It won a 62.9% share in 18-39, a 50.2% share in 18-49, a 42.6% share in 25-54, and a 53.5% share in household shoppers with children.

SHORTLAND STREET producer Jason Daniel said: "The ratings are great, but the really important thing is that we're kicking ass with uniquely Kiwi stories. Our Valentine's Day episode featured the first lesbian civil union on NZ television, but it was also a very moving script, beautifully acted and extremely well directed. Despite the conventional wisdom, viewers don't tune in just for the frocks."

TVNZ extends its congratulations to South Pacific Pictures in providing such a fantastic programme last night. "We look forward to many more 'must see' episodes of New Zealand's favourite soap," says Stephen Smith, TVNZ Head of Content.

SHORTLAND STREET's Valentine's Day success comes on top of an outstanding twelve months during which the show increased its total audience by 10%, emerging as the clear winner in the 7pm timeslot.

The show has built on last year's success with a solid start to its fourteenth year on New Zealand screens. Last week SHORTLAND STREET had an average audience of 500,027, attracting 85,000 more viewers than at the same time in 2005.

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