Seven-year-old Liam Porter, of Papamoa, says when he doesn't save he usually spends his $2 of weekly pocket money on lollies.
His friend Emily Pol, also 7, is a bit more thrifty and says she's saving her money to buy electric pencil sharpeners and other stationery. But after the September 30 tsunami devastated parts of Samoa and threatened both of their homes in the Bay of Plenty, the pair decided their earnings were better spent helping those in need.
"After I saw it on the news that night I was a bit sad and wanted to help so I thought we could send them soft toys and water," said Liam.
"But then I thought if every kid in New Zealand donated $2 of their pocket money we could help the people in Samoa even more."
The Year 3 pupils at Mt Maunganui Primary immediately started writing letters to television stations, newspapers and radio stations while Liam's mother, Amanda Porter, mentioned the idea to her friends at a local book club.
From there emails circulated among friends who in turn forwarded them on. After two weeks the pair's initiative has raised close to $50,000.
Emily's mother, Nikki Pol, said most contributions had come in small amounts. But she said the Bank of New Zealand provided a "very generous" donation of about $25,000 after they had raised about $7000
She said the process had been tricky because they began the initiative during the school holidays and had not been able to get the message quickly out to other schoolchildren.
"The children really don't have any concept about what money is but $50,000 is going to go a long way to helping the people in Samoa. But if more people can help, so much the better," she said.
Emily said she had heard schools would be holding mufti days while others would have funny hat days to raise funds.
"It's not just kids donating money," she said.
"I have got money sent to me from my aunts and uncles and my nana and granddad. Another one of my friends gave $5."
Mrs Pol said the appeal was likely to run for two more weeks.
All money will be given to the Red Cross for Samoan tsunami relief. Children can donate their pocket money or a gold coin amount to Samoa Tsunami Appeal at any BNZ branch.
How to donate to tsunami relief operations:
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
Caritas
- Make a secure online donation at Caritas.org.nz
- Phone 0800 22 10 22 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 4 11 11
TEAR fund
- Make a secure online donation at tearfund.co.nz
- Phone 0800 800 777 to specify Samoa the Philippines or Indonesia. You can also donate at CD and DVD stores.
Mercury Energy
- Donate at mercury.co.nz
or text the word Samoa followed by the amount you wish to pledge and your Mercury account number to 515 or by calling 0800 10 18 10.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is asking for help with the clean-up habitat.org.nz
Unicef
Make a secure online donation unicef.org.nz
or phone on 0800 800 194
