Press Release, Harcourts – For immediate release

Harcourts auctioneers deliver results for Christchurch Stands Tall campaign

Friday, 13 February, 2015

A team of Harcourts top auctioneers has helped the Christchurch Stands Tall campaign surpass its fundraising target, raising $475,650, from which 75% net will be donated to local charities.

The team put 53 Giraffes under the hammer on Wednesday night achieving an average sale price of around $9000 at a sellout event held at Mashina Lounge at Christchurch Casino.

The lots included fifty fibreglass Giraffes - each standing at 2.5 metre tall and painted in themes by local artists - along with a giraffe created using the orange road cones that have become a feature of the city’s streets since the 2011 Canterbury earthquake, as well as two smaller Giraffe “calves” that were made available by sponsors, Harcourts and Air New Zealand

The Ziraffe, which was painted with zebra stripes by Llew Summers and Robyn Webster, fetched the top price at $17,000.

Wild in Art presented the project in partnership with Christchurch Casino.

Project Director of Christchurch Stands Tall, Claire Cowles said:

“Throughout the entire project we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic welcome the city of Christchurch has given the Giraffes and this was evident again on auction night. Our Presenting Partner, Christchurch Casino was a wonderful host for the evening and the professionalism and energy of the Harcourts’ auctioneers ensured amazing results.”

The Giraffes had been on display throughout the Christchurch Stands Tall City Trail since October last year.

The Christchurch Stands Tall campaign also includes a schools program that saw 48 local schools sponsor and decorate their own Giraffe calf sculpture, which were also on display around Christchurch city.

Harcourts was a Schools Programme Partner for this successful campaign, which raises funds for a number of worthy charities; Gap Filler, Life Education Trust, Child Cancer and Life in Vacant Spaces.

Eight Harcourts auctioneers participated in the auction; Chris Kennedy, Lisa Yardley-Vaiese, Phil McGoldrick, Mark McGoldrick, Bryan Thomson, Roger Dawson, Ned Allison, and Ben Deans.

Harcourts National Auction Manager, Chris Kennedy said that he was extremely proud of the performance of the Harcourts auctioneers on the night.

“Our auctioneers put their heart and soul into achieving top results for Christchurch Stands Tall. It was so rewarding to see the preparation, hard work, and auction strategy all pay off. These funds are going to make a real difference to the charities supported by the campaign,” says Kennedy.

About Harcourts

Harcourts is New Zealand’s largest real estate group with 180 offices and 1900 sales consultants nationwide. We specialise in Residential, Commercial, and Rural Property sales and provide Property Management services.

Harcourts has been at the forefront of the real estate market in New Zealand for more than 125 years. Our proud history serving New Zealanders has established Harcourts as New Zealand’s most trusted real estate brand*.

Today, Harcourts has more than 790 offices in eight countries around the world. Our success has been built on ensuring our people have the knowledge, expertise and tools to achieve the best possible results for our customers.

Harcourts charitable arm, The Harcourts Foundation, was established in 2008 to support, grow and enrich our local communities. In New Zealand, we proudly support the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.

*Readers Digest survey, 2013 & 2014.

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