News/Events/Press

2005 Conservation Week: Celebrity Debate and Wilderness Auction

If No Man is an Island, Every Woman Needs a Cave

This event raised over $25,000 for Island restoration in the Haurkai Gulf.Over 235 people attended some travelling from Australia, others from the South Island.

Our thanks to the sponsors on the night, Carlton Hotel, Morton Estate Wines, Phoenix Organics, Weta Water, Gibson Rusden and Lee Fish.

Adjudicator Henry van Asche co-founder of AJ Hackett was extremely impressed by the affirmative team led by Pinky Agnew although it was possibly her shady memories of an earlier tryst that steered the outcome!! Pinky looked outstanding in her fashionable pink regalia and enthused her team which include 'ring-in' criminal and matrimonial lawyer Paddy O'Driscoll subbing for Simon Jefferson who was inadvertently sent to a cave for the night. Rima Te Wiata had obviously done her homework as she knew in detail the costs of hiring or purchasing scuba diving gear to get from any island to any cave should the desire or need arise.

The negative team was aptly led by Andrew Clay who was concerned that men should be branded as 'no' men when he thought they were very much 'yes' men particularly when faced with women, Susan Buckland worked hard to argue the real issues at hand and James Elliot insisted that no man was an island because men were just big peninsulas.

We need to also thank those companies and individuals who provided an outstanding array of wilderness treats. From a ride in a Skywork helicopter to green fees for Kauri Cliffs, accommodation at the Hermitage, Mt Cook to a Ports of Auckland tugboat experience.

The full line up includes: Kathmandu rebound jackets, dinner at Morton Restaurant, Maui campervan holiday, Bayview Chateau Tongariro, Royal New Zealnd Navy simulator experience, a fishing expedition in a purpose built modern fishing boat, a ride in a gipsy moth complete with a Audi A4 cabriolet trip to the Hawkes Bay for take-off, a guided walk with Bush and Beyond in the Kahurangi National Park, four tickets to Warbirds over Wanaka complete with accommodation provided by Silverpine Lodge, a DOC ranger tour of Long Island and Motuara Island with Bill Day's stunning amphibian aircraft just happening to provide the flight, a Little Barrier trip for two, a kiwi chick release on Motuora Island and Destination Queenstown - a dinner with Sam Neill, one case of two Paddocks wine, two nights accommodation at the Millenium Hotel, a golf lesson with Greg Turnern and return flights provided from a New Zealand destination by our national airline Air New Zealand.

Two extra and highly popular items were the director's chairs signed by the cast of King Kong and the team at Weta Workshop.