News/Events/Press

Celebrity Debate & Wilderness Auction Raises $50,000

Did the Plight of the Hihi Cause the Tui to Drown its Sorrows?

The Gala on 5 August 2006 at Villa Maria estate near the Auckland International Airport was certainly the best on record.

The event was a sell out within a fortnight! Congratulations to the BNZ for rapidly securing two tables then negotiating a further one and congratulations also to Tuatara Management who bought two tables then begged for a third - but sorry we just couldn't oblige! Hils Hunt, manager of Tuatara Management ( who funnily enough sponsor Tutara on Little Barrier) then bid the price of a table for a breakfast and yellow eyed penguin watch with former All Black captain Anton Oliver. Thanks for that Hils!

Other big prizes included Otahuna Lodge in Canterbury - we hear that the successful bidder used to pick daffodils in the beautiful park like grounds when he was a boy so that will be a trip down memory lane.

Punetapu Lodge, Hapuku Lodge and Tawa Cove Lodge were all snapped up readily and the Peppers Resorts likewise met with fierce bidding.

The big surprise for the night was the bold and exciting announcement by Air New Zealand General Manager Steve Bayliss of a return business class trip for two to London. This was definitely the top bid at $14,000 and made a massive contribution to the overall tally. We are thrilled that two conservation charities the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust and Birds of Prey also gained funds from the event.

In total over $50,000 was raised.

As for the debate, well there was no question the wining team led by Pinky Agnew successfully convinced us that the tui was indeed driven to consume and devour bountiful cups of tea in sympathy for the plight of the hihi.

A special thank you to Natural History New Zealand who compiled a stunning video of native birds swooping, playing, dancing and preening. The 5 x 12 foot screens made the images bold and captivating as the 235 guest ate their dinner.

Finally a big thank you to Kate and John Hawkesby for giving up their Saturday night for the conservation cause - particularly John who traveled for close to 2 hours round trip from his home in Waiheke.