The gala, organised by University of Otago emeritus professor Martin Ferguson, had 150 lots, ranging from an original Grahame Sydney painting to a couple of cars.
And controlling the bidding was Mr Plumbly, conducting his last auction.
Mr Plumbly (66) kept the crowd of nearly 300 at the Southern Cross Hotel entertained.
When contacted yesterday, Mr Plumbly felt the auction was a great way to go out.
He had been controlling auctions for 20 years and time was catching up with him.
"The eyes are not what they were, and this one is a great one to go out on," Mr Plumbly said.
He had given up commercial auctions about four years ago.
Charity auctions had grown in popularity in the past few years, and it was hard to differentiate between many of them.
He had fond memories of the art auctions at Careys Bay Hotel, and also in Riverton.
The highest priced item he had sold for charity was a signed silk scarf, carrying a Ralph Hotere design, which went for $24,000.
An auctioneer had to have plenty of patter, and keep control of the room, he said.
He remembered an auction in the North Island when the first four lots attracted no bids. There was no such problem on Saturday, with the crowd eager to get involved.
A Hone Tuwhare portfolio, including signed books, a recording to newly composed music of the poem Rain, and a Murray Webb cartoon of the late poet, sold for more than $3000, but was donated back to the hospice for future use.
A Grahame Sydney original fetched $14,000, the top bid of the night, while painter Deidre Copeland's portrait of writer Owen Marshall was highly sought after.
Prime Minister Helen Clark donated a signed book on the Houses of Parliament, which was bought for an undisclosed sum.
Bids were accepted over the Internet, and a painting by artist Lynn Taylor went to a London buyer for $1000.
The auction was opened by former governor-general, Dame Silvia Cartwright.
