Waikato mayoral appeal collects over $60,000 for Christchurch

A joint Waikato mayoral appeal has collected more than $60,000 for quake-hit Christchurch.

The appeal for donations to the Waikato’s Christchurch Earthquake Collective Mayoral Fund – set up after the big February shake - closed last weekend.

As of today, a total of $56,111 has been collected in the Waikato fund account to be forwarded to Christchurch mayor Bob Parker’s office for allocation through the local mayoral relief fund. A further $6500 deposit to the Waikato fund is due from Hauraki District tomorrow which will take the total to be forwarded to more than $60,000.

Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group chairman Hugh Vercoe said he and other regional mayors were well pleased with the generosity shown by Waikato people towards Cantabrians.

“The funds we’ve collected will be a useful addition to what’s being provided by central Government and other appeals for Christchurch.”

People were able to make donations directly or by taking donations to local council offices, which then forwarded them on to the Waikato fund account. Councils also contributed. The following is a breakdown of the source of donations to the fund account administered by Waikato Regional Council:

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