Canterbury donations hit $1000 a minute

Canterbury donations hit $1000 a minute

Bids for the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (NZICA) Christchurch charity auction of a 3 Series BMW car rocket from $1 to $35,000 in just 31 minutes on Trade Me.

After winning a brand new 3 series BMW in a newspaper competition last month, NZICA at 10am today offered it for auction on Trade Me with a reserve of $1 to raise funds for the Christchurch recovery effort.

NZICA Chief Executive Terry McLaughlin said that proceeds from the sale of the 320d BMW will be donated to the NZICA EQ Appeal, which is being launched today to collect funds for the Christchurch recovery effort. He hopes bids for the car, which is direct from the manufacturer and has zero kilometres on the clock, will far exceed the current bids and reach at least $50,000.

“We were lucky enough to win the BMW through a subscriber competition last month. The events in Christchurch quickly made it apparent what we should do with it,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“We’re hoping that people who are in the market for a new car will take the opportunity to get a luxury one at a good price and make sure the proceeds from the sale go to a worthwhile cause.

“We saw that a rock from the Christchurch earthquake can raise $60,000 or more on Trade Me, so I’m hopeful that the BMW will attract some good bids. I know what I’d rather have in the driveway.”

NZICA won the vehicle through a National Business Review subscriber competition on 25 February. The BMW has never been driven. Its recommended retail price (RRP) is $89,000.

Proceeds from the BMW auction, minus GST, will be donated to the NZICA EQ Appeal, which is being launched today at http://appeal.nzica.com. The NZICA EQ Appeal will support the ongoing recovery effort and help Christchurch begin to rebuild.

NZICA has over 32,000 members, of which more than 3,000 are based in Christchurch. Approximately 75 of these have businesses located in the Christchurch CBD.

“Many of our members have been significantly affected by the earthquake. The loss of life and damage to buildings and businesses has shocked and saddened us, but we have been awed by the spirit and resilience our Christchurch members and the city’s residents have shown in the face of the event,” said Mr McLaughlin.

“Like everybody else, we have been looking for opportunities to help. One of the best ways we can do this is by drawing on the generosity of our member network, and the public, to create a designated channel for them to make donations to the Christchurch recovery. The NZICA EQ Appeal will allow them to track and promote their contributions.

“I hope everyone will be able to give generously to support this worthwhile appeal.”

All donations to the NZICA EQ Appeal will be passed on to the New Zealand Government Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. NZICA is covering all fees associated with collecting and passing on the donations.

Trade Me is supporting the NZICA EQ Appeal by waiving all auction fees for the sale of the BMW. Trade Me spokesman Paul Ford congratulated NZICA on its decision to auction the BMW and donate the proceeds to its appeal.

“Good on the team at NZICA for getting behind the earthquake relief effort in a very big and very generous way. We hope Trade Me members agree that this is a fantastic auction and get in behind it with some generous bids,” Mr Ford said.

The BMW comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty and a three-year BMW service plan. Mark Gilbert, Managing Director of the BMW Group, said he was pleased that the vehicle would be used for a good cause.

“We’re pleased to support the NZICA EQ Appeal. It’s great that this BMW will be used to help raise funds for Christchurch,” said Mr Gilbert.

The BMW auction closes at midday on 22 March 2010. Bids can be placed by visiting the Trade Me listing at http://trade.me/bmw4chch. Donations to the NZICA EQ Appeal may be made at http://appeal.nzica.com.

ENDS

About NZICA
NZICA is the membership body of choice for over 32,000 accounting and business professionals, working around New Zealand and across the globe. We act in the public interest through regulating the profession, developing financial reporting standards and promoting quality, integrity and expertise. Our members hold one of three prestigious professional accountancy designations: Chartered Accountant (CA), Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) or Accounting Technician (AT).

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