Auction night raises $19,000

HEIRLOOM: Wayne Regnault with his family's 119-year-old surveyor's map of Greytown, which sold for $5000 at the auction. PHOTO/FILE

A quiz night and auction of some old South Wairarapa treasures has realised nearly $20,000 for a Greytown woman's lifesaving operation - and her family are "over the moon".

Proceeds from a Greytown Lions and Lioness quiz on Friday are going towards stem cell treatment for Greytown woman Nikki Regnault, who has been battling multiple sclerosis for 19 years.

More than 220 people - making up 56 teams - packed the South Wairarapa Working Men's Club for the quiz and supporting auction, for which the Greytown community donated various items. Mrs Regnault's husband Wayne said the event raised $19,000.

"It was an incredible night - the generosity from the public has been just overwhelming," Mr Regnault said. "There was a great energy on the night, and we're so grateful for everyone who made the effort to put it on ... It's a wonderful little community we live in."

The 27-item auction, hosted by Mike Perry of Wakefield Antiques, included dinner for two at a Wellington restaurant, a three-night visit to Castlepoint, and corporate tickets to New Zealand Warriors games.

The star of the show, however, was the 119-year-old surveyor's map of Greytown, contributed by Mr Regnault, which had been in his family for four generations.

The map, drawn by surveyor Thomas McKay Drummond, sold to a Greytown developer for $5000.

"The map's going to stay within the community, which is great," Mr Regnault said.

"It was a bit of a heartstring puller for us to see it go, but it's going to a fantastic cause."

Also going under the hammer was a bat crafted by the Greytown branch of Fearnley Cricket Shop, and signed by the 1982/83 New Zealand cricket team - including Sir Richard Hadlee and Jeremy Coney. The bat sold for $1000.

Mr Regnault had estimated the cost of his wife's treatment, which she will receive in Singapore, to be around $200,000.

The family has been told she will start the treatment in February next year. "We've got a bit of time to raise the last bit of cash," he said. "For now, we're going well - just putting one foot in front of the other."