Rotorua Christmas Appeal: Preliminary tally, $10,000 donation revealed

This year’s Rotorua Daily Post Christmas Appeal has raised more than $80,000 in goods and funds for the Salvation Army foodbank, a preliminary tally shows.

For some whānau, the foodbank’s support means they “get to have a Christmas this year”, Salvation Army Rotorua community ministries manager Darnielle Hoods said.

The tally includes a significant $10,000 boost from the Rotorua Trust, whose annual donation has this year been used for supermarket vouchers for clients to use over the holiday period, Hoods said.

The annual six-week Christmas appeal, supported by The Hits Rotorua 97.5FM, started on November 9 and is wrapping up.

Food donations can be made to the Salvation Army on Amohia St on Monday between 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, and financial contributions can continue over the holidays.

A final donation tally will be revealed in the New Year. Last year’s appeal raised a record $94,409.30.

Hoods said her team felt “blessed” by how the Rotorua community rallied together for this campaign.

The preliminary tally of $81,182.50 included $23,950 in cash donations and 18,940 food items, each valued by the foodbank at an average $2.50, plus 380 gifts.

The gift tally included the 100 toys donated by the Rotorua Police, as they rejoined the appeal’s Fill The Bus collection on its 10th anniversary.

Upon their return to the Fill The Bus Fundraiser, Rotorua Police donated hundreds of dollars worth of toys for the 2024 Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. Photo / Aleyna Martinez

It “blew us away,” Hoods said.

“We want to acknowledge the outstanding support from the Rotorua Police … Thanks to their contributions, many children in our community will experience the magic of unwrapping presents on Christmas morning – something that, for some of them, will be a first.”

Hoods said the Salvation Army team wanted to express their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed this year.

“The kindness and support from individuals, organisations, and the wider community have been truly humbling.

“This funding allowed us to purchase a mix of supermarket vouchers, hams and a variety of Christmas treats to include in each whānau’s visit to the supermarket.

“It has been such a joy to see people leave with smiles beaming across their faces, often sharing emotional comments, like ‘we get to have a Christmas this year’.

“Moments like these remind us why this mahi [work] is so important,” Hoods said.

The generosity of the Rotorua Trust had made a massive difference, especially during their pre-Christmas operation, Hoods said.

“Now, it’s absolutely all hands on deck to help do what we can to see as many [whānau] as we can before we close [on Monday].

“We’ve got lots of additional volunteers helping do shops with whānau so we can get more people seen before Christmas,” Hoods said.

This year was the first time they had the choice-model supermarket at Christmas, rather than pre-packaged food parcels.

Hoods said this allowed them to offer “food like hams and those sorts of things” – but slots to visit were quickly booked up.

They also gave out Pak’nSave and Countdown vouchers to ensure they could help as many whānau as possible before the holiday shutdown.

“The collective efforts of everyone involved have made an extraordinary impact on our community. To see the difference we are able to make together is both inspiring and deeply moving.

“On behalf of our team and the whānau we serve, thank you for making this Christmas season one filled with hope, joy, and a true sense of kotahitanga [unity],” Hoods said.

‘Nurtured by a community’

Chief executive of the Rotorua Trust, Stewart Edward, said the town’s famed manaakitanga [hospitality and generosity] had rubbed off on him, too.

“I was very lucky to be brought up in this community and went to school here and all that sort of stuff and, and felt in retrospect that I was nurtured by a community.”

When he returned to work in Rotorua, he wanted to find a way of giving back.

Stewart Edward said he was proud to support the Rotorua Christmas Appeal because of how it served Rotorua citizens during the holidays. Photo / Andrew Warner

″I think all I’m doing is replicating the kind of ideas and energy that a lot of other people have in terms of wanting to give back, and that’s the strength of our community.”

Edward said connection was “the kaupapa that drives us”.

He said Fill The Bus – which was led by Paul Hickey of the Hits and this year collected more than 10,000 items – was a highlight for him during the Christmas Appeal.

“We’re delighted to support something as important as this because it really helps the people of our community, often at a time that’s quite challenging for families.”

Paul Hickey, left, with Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell, centre, and members of the Salvation Army team accepting the Rotorua Lakes Council's donation to Fill the Bus. Photo / Aleyna Martinez

He said this year the trust had also been proud to take the lead and donate another $5 million to make sure the Rotorua Museum rebuild happened.

“I think that was a critical part in terms of getting it over the line, to make sure that the Government supported it, and the council.”

He hoped in 2025 to see Rotorua return to the vibrant and prosperous town he loved, and get back to where it used to be in terms of welcoming tourists.

“I’d like to see the vitality come back and to get people to feel proud about their city because it is a fantastic city to live in,” Edward said.

Rotorua Daily Post editor Kim Gillespie said this year’s donations - big and small - all went towards making an important difference.

“Every little bit helps - thank you to the Rotorua community.”

How to donate

Monetary donations can continue to be made to the Salvation Army Rotorua bank account 02-0416-0024233-00 with the reference: Christmas Appeal.

Aleyna Martinez is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. She moved to the region in 2024 and has previously reported in Wairarapa and at Pacific Media Network.