Key's flag doodle sells for over $10k

Photo / Sarah Ivey

The auction for the Prime Minister's drawing of an alternative New Zealand flag is over.

The auction attracted more than 126,000 views since it was listed just over a week ago and registered more than 180 bids.

The winning bid of $10,150 was offered by students of the Elite International School of Beauty and Spa Therapies, with all proceeds going to Cure Kids.

"We think it is probably too difficult to squeeze 300 students into the ninth floor of the Beehive so we are hoping Mr Key can visit one of our campuses instead," the school said in a statement released this evening.

Spokesman Simon Harding says the school will invite the Prime Minister to the campus whose students achieve the highest pass rate in this year's international exams.

Mr Key was present for the opening of the school's Newmarket campus in November.

Last week it was reported that bids had reached $20,000, but that the bidder in question had a spotty trading record.

The auction came about after Prime Minister John Key was asked to draw his version of an alternative flag on TVNZ's Breakfast programme last week.

Mr Key gave his consent for the drawing to be auctioned for charity.

The auction has also attracted hundreds of questions, including a request from one person to have morning tea with John Key should they win the auction. The Prime Minister's office subsequently confirmed he would be happy to meet the winning bidder.

Breakfast reporter Matty McLean has also since listed his own doodle of an alternative flag, which is currently sitting at $337.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE