Trade Me bidders give a little more for appeal

Bob and Chris Wakefield paid $89 more than their winning Trade Me bid for a painting called Amalgamation - the Stuff of Knight Mayors, to boost the Limitless Hope appeal. Photo / Supplied

Winners of a painting which makes light of amalgamation paid more than their final Trade Me bid - for a good cause.

Bob and Chris Wakefield placed one of five bids to win a work by Napier-based retired journalist Franki James, depicting twin city leaders in a medieval jousting match - wearing their respective coats of arms.

The couple, who collected local artwork, first came across the painting while flicking through a story in Hawkes Bay Today about profits from the sale being donated to Limitless Hope.

"They saw it there and realised it was a good cause so that was a win-win for them," Ms James said.

Kevin and Kiri Swannell are pushing for an emergency shelter, which could be used to put a roof over the heads of those in desperate need of a place to stay.

Their mission? Stopping the cycle before families found themselves sleeping rough.

Hawkes Bay Today came on board launching the Swannell family's Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal - a campaign to get the goods and services needed to make it happen.

All of James' works used a sense of humour to poke gentle fun at politics and aimed to prompt debate, with this painting proving to be particularly topical.

The listing attracted 289 views, 13 watchers and five bids - the last of which came late in the piece.

"I made contact after the auction and mentioned that I was a bit disappointed that it only went for $111, and said I was going to make it up to $200," Ms James said. "They said it was for a good cause and they would pay the difference."

Alongside $200 that the Wakefield's paid for Amalgamation " the stuff of knight Mayors, the artist donated $100 to boost pledges for a Givealittle account.