Combined rotary event raises $90k for charity (+pics&video)

The Rotorua community has really "flexed its muscles" by raising $90,000 for local charities.

More than 430 people attended the inaugural Rotorua Charity Luncheon at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre yesterday, where All Blacks legend, Colin Meads was a star attraction. The event was littered with laughs and entertainment while people engaged in both silent and live auctions.

The item that scored the biggest ticket price was A Hyundai Accent car sold for $25,000, an All Blacks jersey signed by the World Cup-winning side fetched $14,000, while another of the team's jerseys from the beginning of the season sold for $9500.

Rotorua Lakes, North, West and Sunrise Rotary Clubs hosted the charity auction, and hoped after this year's success it would become one of Rotorua's most anticipated social events.

Image 1 of 10: Charity Auction. Areapa Morehu, left, and Nicola Prentice Photo/Ben Fraser

Sunrise's Deb Bell said they were "totally blown away" by the amount raised. "We are very happy with how the event has gone. We were aiming for $100,000 so to get so close to that goal was wonderful - it has set quite a standard for coming years.

"We valued the All Blacks jersey at around $15,000 so the winner still got a bit of a bargain but we are thrilled with how well it sold."

Rotorua Rotary West's Chris Smith said the auction was about "making a difference".

Chris Smith (left) and Paul Allison with a signed World Cup All Black Jersey auctioned for $14,000. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

"All four clubs have come together and everyone has done their bit to make this auction happen. We were very excited at how keen the community was to get behind us and really flex their muscles to support our local charities."

Mr Smith said this year had set a benchmark for years to come.

The $90,000 will be poured back into the community through main recipients Whare Aroha, St John Ambulance, and Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society.

Other recipients are Rotorua Community Hospice, Riding for the Disabled, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Plunket Rotorua, Rotorua Lakes Coastguard, St Chad's Rotorua, Rural Volunteer Fire Brigade, and the Sunset Primary School Breakfast Programme.