It may have been cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, but the Hawke's Bay Wine Auction has continued to deliver much-needed funds to Cranford Hospice. 

Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction, General Manager Elisha Milmine says many patrons have shown compassion and contributed their ticket costs, plus additional donations to be gifted to the charity. 

"We were extremely disappointed to have to cancel the 2020 event, but the philanthropy we have received has been truly humbling."

A local group of people who have been regular syndicate buyers at the auction bought the Paritua auction lot after approaching the winery and making a "generous" bid. 

"They had submitted an absentee bid on the Paritua auction lot and once the event cancellation was announced they approached the winery to make a generous bid to purchase the wine with the funds to be donated to Cranford Hospice," Milmine says. 

Winemaker Jason Stent says it is a nice gesture by the syndicate, who wish to remain anonymous. 

"We just like to be a part of it and contribute in any way that we can and thanks to the syndicate they've been big supporters of the auction for years and have bought a couple of our auction lots over the years and they were very keen on this one in particular." 

Since 2017, with the exception of a number of years in the early 2000s, the winery has regularly donated a half barrel.

"We just think it's a really good initiative from the wine industry side but also there's a lot of us in the industry, particularly in Hawke's Bay, who have had people go through or know people who have had to use Cranford Hospice." 

And while the items in this year's auction lot will be available for next year's event, the winery has made sure another lot of wine will be included. 

Although this year's donation to the charity is "nothing like" the amount gifted when the event is held, Milmine says the combined giving of all involved has allowed them to contribute something. 

"The fact that the Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction has been the largest annual contributor to Cranford Hospice for the past six years is made possible due to the generosity of HB wineries and partner sponsors who have continued supporting the event so all funds raised at Auction can be gifted to Cranford." 

Cranford Hospice Chief Executive Janice Byford-Jones says the ongoing impact of Covid-19 has had a profoundly negative impact on fundraising revenue. They were forced to launch an emergency appeal after the cancellation of the auction, among other events, earlier this year.

Within weeks, the Hawke’s Bay community has responded to the call to help raise lost income with donations over $170,000 and more still coming in.

“The response from our community has been amazing, really heartwarming and we cannot say thank you enough,” she says. “The reality is that we were under such financial pressure that we may have had to rethink how we offer our service, but as they always do, our community has connected to what we do and responded to our pleas so generously." 

"The support from the Hawke’s Bay community means that Cranford Hospice can continue supporting people in the community." 

Byford-Jones says they appreciate the Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction, which over 29 years has raised a total of over $3.9 million, made possible with the support of the HB wine community, sponsor partners and bidders.

“We understand cancelling this year’s event was a painstaking decision for the Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction committee, but we wholeheartedly agree it was made for all the right reasons and they really had no choice in the current Covid environment.”

The 30th Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction will now be held on Saturday, September 17 at 2022 at ToiToi HB Arts and Events Centre.

How to donate? Donate to Cranford Hospice today at www.cranfordhospice.org.nz or phone 06 878 7047.

For more free local news head to www.hbapp.co.nz

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