National Park community steps up for flood fundraiser

A fundraiser auction, arranged and hosted by Schnapps Bar – a National Park Village institution popular with locals and visitors alike, has raised $32,397 for those affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bay.

$20,000 of the funds raised has already been donated to Mike King’s I am Hope charity organisation, which is supporting those affected within the Hawke's Bay region by providing counselling services to all who that need it.

“There is lots more in the kitty to assist projects, but we all know the legend Mike King will get things happening,” says Schnapps Bar owner Spud Crosse.

The auction took place at Schnapps Bar on Sunday, 26 February with a wide range of goods and services donated by local businesses and individuals going under the hammer.

On offer was a range of items accommodation, adventure and activity packages donated by operators based in National Park, Whakapapa, Erua and Raurimu. These included AmyJade’s Coffee Cart, Blue Mountain Adventure Centre, National Park Service Station & Four Square, Mountain Heights Lodge, Plateau Lodge, Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, Ski Biz – The Alpine Centre, Tongariro Crossing Lodge and TNT Pataka Food Truck.

Organisations from further afield who also donated items included Bidfood Rotorua, Blue Duck Station, Blue Hill Café, Bradley Gardens, Bradley Livestock, Camp Epic Timber Trail, Forgotten World Adventures, Jailhouse Ridge, Home Spot Taumarunui, Landcorp Farming, Louisa Muir Horse Dentist, Lion Breweries, Muzza Photography, Opus Fresh, Otamapouri Motors, Roquette Restaurant Taupo, Silver Fern Farms, Taupo Tandem Skydiving, The Bistro Taupo, The Nail Place, Toyota Feilding, and TPP Contracting.

Items donated included firewood, art works, IT services, beauty treatments, tyres, meats, a signed Crusaders rugby jersey, and an axe signed by world champion woodsman Jack Jordan.

Schnapps Bar hosted a similar event in 2020 to raise relief funds for the Hawkes Bay droughts raising $10,873.

“949 days after doing that fundraiser, our little community has really stepped up again raising $32,397 for the people in Hawkes Bay,” says Spud.

“Well done to everyone involved – all the awesome people who turned up on the night who chipped in and bought something, and those who donated items for the auction. Thanks and love ya work!”

But the opportunity to support the fundraiser is not yet over with an online auction going live soon, says Spud.

“We have some great items to be listed online including amazing adventure, tourism and accommodation packages and we have set our target at raising $50,000.”

Follow the Schnapps Bar Facebook page for updates on the online auction and future donations.