The calendar is being promoted by Tasha Jones, a former Haast resident now living in Wanaka, and her friend Sheri Wright, of Hannahs Clearing.
The calendar will be photographed by Neroli Nolan and unveiled at the annual Hunters' Evening at the Hard Antler Bar and Restaurant on May 10.
‘‘We are good at fund-raising. Last time, we shed our hair for cancer. This time, we are going to shed our clothes,'' Ms Jones (28) said yesterday.
The calendar will be in the tradition of one by a group of rural British women which inspired the film Calendar Girls.
The idea has been adapted by many New Zealand women's groups, including the Romahapa Women's Institute and the wives and supporters of the Crescent Rugby Football Club of Kaitangata.
The photographs would be tasteful, and the participants - who were of all shapes and sizes - would choose their own scene associated with the Saxtons' lives at Haast. The final photographs would be chosen by the girls, Ms Jones said.
Ms Jones and Mrs Wright would be in the calendar, but the identity of the remaining 10 Haast women would be kept secret until the launch, Ms Jones said.
‘‘They are a great bunch of down-to-earth girls who are out and about working, enjoying the lifestyle of Haast, doing anything from mustering to chefing to outdoors farm work, hospitality and tourism. They've been really excited about how the calendar is being produced.''
Ms Jones is a former employee of father-and-son helicopter pilots Dave and Morgan Saxton, who have been convicted and sentenced to two-year-plus jail terms for stealing greenstone from South Westland.
The men have appealed their convictions and sentences, and have applied for bail.
Ms Jones said she and other Haast women wanted to use the calendar to protest against the severity of the sentences the men are serving.
‘‘The Haast girls decided we wanted to give something back They've each touched our lives in some way . . . In my time of working for them, there were countless hours of search and rescue both boys did for the community, as well as for people who didn't live at Haast,'' Ms Jones said.
Ms Jones is formerly from Rangiora, and lived and worked at Haast for five years before moving to Wanaka three years ago to further her career.
She is now a saleswoman for a Wanaka real-estate company and retains close links with Haast.
Haast men had been supportive of the women's courage in doing the calendar, Ms Jones said.
‘‘Quite a few of the girls are shy but for the sake of a Haast father and son, all inhibitions are being thrown out the window.''
Ms Jones did not know what the Saxtons thought of the calendar but hoped they would be ‘‘chuffed'' and realise the community missed them.
The Saxton Appeal Trust will also be holding a public fund-raising function in Post Office Lane in Wanaka from 5pm tonight.
