Cranford Hospice chief executive Janice Byford-Jones said it was a pleasure to be surrounded by so many fantastic people who had come together for the event.
"It's quite overwhelming really."
Cranford Hospice marketing and fundraising manager Nathalie van Dort said this event would help cover some of the costs in running the much needed hospice in Hawke's Bay.
It costs $6.2m a year to run and $3.4m is provided by the Hawke's Bay District Health Board. A further $2.8m is then fundraised for each year equating to about $7700 a day, she said.
"We're very fortunate to have an event like this and very grateful to everybody."
Hastings resident Colleen Kaye said she had not been to the auction before but would make it an annual outing due to it being such a fun time and for such a good cause.
"It's a great event."
She had her eye on a few lots before the auction and hoped for a successful bid, however, all the lots would be very popular, she said.
Terry Dinneen, of Napier, said he had also come for the first time in the hopes of getting a lot from Crossroads Wines because his son was the winemaker there before it was sold.
"I thought I'd come along and maybe have a bid.
"It's a great venue, it's great for Hawke's Bay."
Some of the money raised this year would be used to employ another medical officer and a couple of nurses.
The event sold out yesterday and kicked off with an Icons & Legends Workshop with Peter Hubscher, Barry Browne (both formerly of Church Road) and Church Road winemaker Chris Scott last night.
Preparations for the auction had been ongoing since the previous event and involved more than 80 local businesses, who had pitched in to ensure all auction proceeds were donated to the cause.
Last year a record-breaking $180,000 was raised for Cranford Hospice.
The 26th annual auction with 44 lots is being run by Harcourts New Zealand chief executive Chris Kennedy.
