Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: Charity VIPs aren't found in high price seats

New Zealanders are known for being giving, generous people.
We have seen that in spades in the support and financial assistance provided to Christchurch. We did ourselves proud. And we give in different ways too. Some give time while others open their cheque books.
So it does seem a pity that in recent years we have gone the same way as many overseas countries and encouraged the corporate tables, seats and high-price ticket functions for fundraising purposes.
I have often seen a function advertised that I would like to support by attending but at $95 plus a seat, I decide against it.
I can support two or three organisations with a donation of $20 to $30 each. Not much perhaps, but for many organisations today every little helps.
We have always prided ourselves on being an egalitarian society, but with VIP areas now regularly set aside at functions and corporate seating provided at others; this presumption has certainly been squashed.
Of course historians will tell us that while our forefathers may have started out with the intention of New Zealand being egalitarian we never were, "Jack was never as good as his master", no matter how much we might want to believe that to be true. There was, and always will be, some that believe there has to be an A team and a B team. Not many will willingly put their hand up to volunteer for the B team, though. And this is my niggle with corporate seating. My bum on a seat is as good as anyone else's; it's just that it's a cheaper seat, not one with the red-satin finish and thicker padding.
Corporate seating areas and corporate functions are now commonplace. The beautiful people go to these functions. They may not be supporters throughout the year, contribute in any other way, but when it's time to show up, be seen and pay for a high-priced ticket they will. That's their contribution. But it must be mostly the same people at each function. And yet I can't help but admire the people who do the hard yards in fundraising. They turn up regularly, support their clubs and organisations in the way they know how, by gifting their time. They get the kids rugged up to stand in the cold to show support for their chosen club and charity. They can't afford VIP seating but they are VIPs in my book. And without their continuous support, over many years, a good number of clubs and worthy organisations would have gone to the wall.
That's why I have never quite taken to VIP seating at functions or sporting events. A function is either an A list function where you pay the high price of a ticket or you make the ticket price within reason so that as many people as possible can attend.
When you start to include corporate prices at functions you are contributing to the A team seeing themselves as more worthy, more deserving than the B team ticket holders who are used to make up the numbers. There has always been a range of ticket prices in theatres and stadiums. For seating nearer the stage or in a better area, of course you will pay a premium. Nothing wrong with that, but corporate seating is for those who can afford to pay more. At these functions many thousands of dollars are raised, all for good causes. But it has been the average citizen giving what they could, year after year, who gave New Zealand the reputation of being a giving and generous nation.