Food and wine lovers raise $130,000 for North Shore Hospice

Generous food and wine lovers ate and drank their way through the dishes of leading Auckland restaurants recently en route to raising a staggering $130,000 for North Shore Hospice. 

The organisation’s annual Bayleys North Shore Hospice Vintners’ Brunch dining extravaganza at SKYCITY Convention Centre offered participants – who paid $195 each for the privilege – entree-sized courses matched with wines from some of New Zealand’s finest wineries, including a number which have supported the event since its inception 13 years ago. They encompass Babich, Coopers Creek, Matua Valley, and Kumeu River.

Participating restaurants at the fundraiser included Chow, Dine by Peter Gordon, Hallertau Brewbar and Restaurant, Harbourside Seafood Bar, Monsoon Poon, Number 5, O’Connell St Bistro, Pastis, Toto Restaurant, Tribeca, and VBG, with cheese from Kapiti Cheeses.

North Shore Hospice is a service and facility dedicated to providing the best possible quality of life for those with a terminal illness. Specialist doctors, nurses, and counsellors experienced in palliative and terminal care, work together with the patient and their family to relieve pain and provide physical, emotional and spiritual support during the final stages of a patient’s life, completely free of charge.

Event manager Rosemary Such from North Shore Hospice said the Bayleys North Shore Hospice Vintners’ Brunch success was once again due to the phenomenal support from the dozens of sponsors. Primary sponsor of the event was Bayleys North Shore which worked closely with Rosemary Such in organising the Bayleys North Shore Hospice Vintners’ Brunch and securing items for the live and silent auctions held during the course of the afternoon-long social occasion.

“It’s amazing that even in times of a recession, the generosity of Aucklanders shines through to help us raise an unbelievable amount for this cause. It is made possible by the goodwill of individuals and businesses within our local community, such as Bayleys, and I would like to thank them all for their tremendous support,” Ms Such said.

In the live auction, Bayleys national auction manager Hayden Duncan was in sparkling form as he encouraged bidding on such sensational items as a helicopter ride to Waiheke for lunch, use of a brand new Audi for five days, lunch for 10 guests at Villa Maria Estate winery, a $5000 radio advertising package on Big FM, a private party for up to 30 people at Chambers Bar, lunch at O’Connell St Bistro with America’s Cup skipper Dean Barker and his dad, and a painting by well-known artist Tim Wilson.