DWTS' charities $70k happier

TV3 Dancing With The stars 2015' Chrystal Chenery and Jonny Williams. Photo / Supplied

The hot-stepping antics of some of our most-loved celebrities on Dancing with the Stars has contributed $70,000 to Kiwi charities.

Ten high-profile New Zealanders and their dancing partners tangoed and waltzed into the nation's hearts on the TV3 show, won by broadcaster Simon Barnett and Vanessa Cole in July.

Now charities nominated by the celebrities are receiving the money raised by the public from text voting.

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre Higher Ground in Te Atatu, West Auckland, was the charity of choice of former MP Pam Corkery.

"We see the benefits of raising awareness of alcohol and other drug addictions as equal to the donation that will come to us from the TV show," programme director Johnny Dow said. "We were thrilled Pam nominated us."

Corkery - alcohol-free for six years - said recovery from addiction was still close to her heart. "People came up to me in the street and told me about their family members who were dying from drink and drugs," Corkery told the Herald on Sunday.

"There was a more overwhelming reaction to my charity than there was to my dancing."

The money will be distributed according to the number of text votes each contestant received. Winner Barnett's charity, the Salvation Army, gets the most cash.

MediaWorks was not able to provide a breakdown of how much each charity would get.

Actor Ben Barrington nominated St John, Colin Mathura-Jeffree chose Alzheimers NZ, Jay-Jay Harvey went for Fertility NZ and boxer Shane Cameron backed the Child Cancer Foundation.

Siobhan Marshall nominated South Pacific Animal Welfare, Teuila Blakely chose Women's Refuge, surfing champ Maz Quinn opted for Surf Life Saving NZ and Chrystal Chenery chose the Home and Family Society of Christchurch.

Child Cancer Foundation chief executive Robyn Kiddle said it supported more than 500 families nationwide at any given time and money raised by fans of Cameron and his dance partner Nerida Cortese was welcome.

Lisa Honeybone from Surf Life Saving NZ said cash raised by Quinn would contribute to equipping the 4000 volunteer lifeguards on beaches this summer.

A spokeswoman for MediaWorks said the broadcaster was grateful to the public for the $70,000 contribution to worthy charities.