$28,000 for quake appeal

Kia Kaha Canterbury organisers and volunteers (from left) Sunny Sky, Tony Gillespie, Karen Morris, Renee Robinson, Nathan Proctor, volunteer co-ordinator Laura Cross and Nick Farrer hand over a cheque for $14,000 to BP Queenstown manager Karina Gaudin yesterday. BP has matched the amount of money raised in Queenstown on Sunday, with $28,000 now heading to the Red Cross to help with the earthquake recovery. Photo by Tracey Roxburgh.

The cheque from the event, organised by Queenstown residents Sam Ross, Tony Gillespie, Nick Farrer and Sunny Sky, was delivered yesterday afternoon.

About 2000 people took in the action in Queenstown's CBD on Sunday, with 14 acts on the main stage, including DJs, Kiwi Haka and the Queenstown Primary School band.

The organisers also ran a silent auction featuring about 30 items, sold T-shirts and organised a bouncy castle and children's area, face painting, a cake stall, sausage sizzles and a V8 simulator for those keen to experience life in the fast lane.

Mr Gillespie said the event took just over a week to put together.

Sponsors had readily offered support, with Remarkables Audio, Exposure Talent, Event Scaffolding, Hirequip, Lakes Consulting Group, Lakes Leisure and Placemakers quick to offer whatever they could.

Ms Sky said she heard "through the grapevine" BP would price match any fundraising efforts for Christchurch, so she contacted the Queenstown outlet.

BP spokeswoman Diana Popodopolous, of Wellington, said BP was matching any donations to the appeal in any of its outlets in New Zealand, ending last night.

At last count, the total nationwide would be about $400,000, she said.