The Meridian Mall marketing manager attended the fundraiser in Sydney and has not been able to think of anything else since.
"I learnt about this place called Mission Mexico and I thought `what a great idea' and it's taken me a year and a-half to save enough money to buy ticket to get over there."
Mission Mexico is an orphanage in Tapachula, Mexico, set up by Australian couple Alan and Pamela Skuse in 2001.
At present it is home to 53 children up to the age of 18 years old.
"I just thought `what a wonderful thing to do' and now I'm finally doing it. I'm flying straight over there and will be working six days a week doing eight-hour shifts.
"I'll be doing a variety of things like looking after the kids and preparing them for school. They have had pretty disastrous lives."
The 30-year-old Australian, who has been living in Dunedin for the past three months, has paid for her own costs and will host a fundraising evening at Taqueria Poblano on October 9 to raise funds exclusively for the children.
"The fact that two Australians have set it up it make me want to support it. They don't make any money from it or receive any funding.
"They have sponsors but they lost some of them with the recession, so now is a good time to go."
"I can't expect people to be incredibly excited about Mission Mexico because it's not in our backyard but I can put on a party.
"By donating that $10 (the fiesta ticket cost), I can sort of help the orphanage reach their goals."
Ms McKenzie, who is studying Spanish part-time at the University of Otago, said the hardest part of will be "leaving the kids, without a doubt".
The Mexican fiesta fundraiser will be held at Taqueria Poblano on October 9 at 7pm.
It will include a trivia session, spot prizes and a salsa lesson.
Tickets, which are available on the night, cost $10 and includes a glass of sangria.
All proceeds go directly to Mission Mexico.
