Kiwi Celebrities Go Under the Hammer for UNICEF NZ

Kiwi Celebrities Go Under the Hammer for UNICEF NZ

UNICEF NZ Auctions for Africa www.trademe.co.nz

Want to share a story or two over dinner with Mike McRoberts, get behind the scenes of Fair Go with Ali Mau or talk business with Gareth Morgan over three courses? Well now you can by bidding in the UNICEF NZ Auctions for Africa at http://www.trademe.co.nz until 11 August.

Whatever is in your diary for the next few months we can guarantee it’s about to get a whole lot more exciting! Some of New Zealand’s most famous faces are getting behind UNICEF NZ’s Appeal for the millions of malnourished children in East Africa by putting themselves up for auction.

All profits from the Trade Me auctions will go to UNICEF's emergency work in the Horn of Africa, where over 11 million people, including 2.3 million children, are facing starvation due to on-going drought, soaring food prices and conflict.

UNICEF NZ Ambassador Mike McRoberts is one of New Zealand's most successful television reporters. He's covered some of the world’s most dangerous places, including conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza. The highest bidder for Mike will win a dinner with Mike and his wife Paula Penfold at Cibo restaurant in Auckland (http://www.cibo.co.nz).

Mike said, “Around the world I have seen first-hand the devastating impact that emergency situations can have on young lives. UNICEF is on the ground right now in the Horn of Africa helping millions of malnourished children, but they desperately need more funding. Bid for dinner with me and support this life-saving work."

Ali Mau is offering you and three friends the chance to go behind the scenes of one of New Zealand’s most iconic and longest-running programmes – TVNZ’s Fair Go! You’ll attend the live taping and afterwards, you’ll have an exclusive Q&A session with UNICEF NZ Ambassador Ali and her co-host Gordon Harcourt.

Ali said, “The worst hit drought in 60 years is happening in Africa right now and millions of children need our help. So why not raise some much-needed cash for UNICEF by bidding for the chance to join Gordon Harcourt and I on the set of Fair Go. Your support will make a big difference.” Gareth Morgan is a well-known economist, investor, fisherman, columnist and motorcycle adventurer with a larger-than-life persona. The highest bidder will win a dinner with Gareth and wife Jo at Logan Brown restaurant in Wellington (http://www.loganbrown.co.nz). Gareth and Jo are proud UNICEF Ambassadors, having seen UNICEF's work first-hand and having jointly funded several projects.

Gareth said, “A crisis is happening in Africa right now - famine has been declared in parts of Somalia and over half a million severely malnourished children in the region are at risk of imminent death. But we can make a difference – it only costs UNICEF $2 a day to feed a severely malnourished child. Please support UNICEF’s work by making a donation or bidding for dinner with Jo and I.”

TVNZ star Brendon Pongia is also supporting UNICEF NZ’s Auctions for Africa.

Whether you’re interested in finding out about his role as Good Morning’s front-man, his eight years leading the Tall Blacks or his time spent waltzing on our screens in Dancing With The Stars, Brendon’s sure to have a story or two to tell! The highest bidder and their guest will win a dinner with Brendon at The White House Restaurant in Wellington (http://www.whr.co.nz).

Brendon said, “When I heard about UNICEF’s emergency work helping children in Africa I knew I had to get involved. UNICEF is on the ground providing life-saving support such as therapeutic feeding, clean water and vaccinations to millions of children. If you want to do your bit please donate (every donation, however small can help) or bid for dinner with me!”

Dennis McKinlay, Executive Director at UNICEF NZ, said, “We are extremely grateful to our Ambassadors, supporters and restaurateurs for their generous involvement with UNICEF NZs Appeal for Africa. Thanks to them you have a chance to win an experience that normally money just can’t buy.

“They are supporting our appeal so generously because of the scale of the situation. Right now over half a million children across Africa are severely malnourished and at risk of imminent death.

“UNICEF is on the ground in Africa helping to save those children already in critical condition but also implementing a range of measures to stop others from becoming malnourished. Less than $2 a day can provide nutrient rich therapeutic food to starving children, so if you can’t bid then please donate instead. Thanks to your support, Kiwis are already saving lives,” McKinlay said.

By plane, truck and ship, UNICEF is delivering tons of critical supplies to some of the hardest hit areas in southern Somalia. UNICEF is the main provider of high-calorie therapeutic food in the country, and supports over 800 nutrition centres in Somalia. UNICEF is getting aid to children in hard to reach areas which other agencies don’t have access to.

Malnutrition isn’t just about a lack of food but a combination of other factors like inadequate health services and unsafe water and sanitation. That’s why UNICEF is also providing basic health care, safe drinking water and is also undertaking a massive vaccination campaign for children living in the host communities around Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya. The campaign will target almost 203,000 children under five. Meanwhile in Somalia, UNICEF is aiming to immunise 2.5 million children against measles.

UNICEF NZ urgently needs funds to reach malnourished children in South Somalia and other countries in need in East Africa. If you don’t want to bid then please donate now at http://www.unicef.org.nz or call 0800 800 194. Every donation, however small, makes a difference.

Terms and conditions for each auction are available at http://www.trademe.co.nz

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