With the raising of his left hand and the scribble of a pen, Dunedin man Dave Knox parted with more than $20,000 and he could not have been happier about it.
Mr Knox, the winner of the auctions for a "Man Cave" and "She Shed" at the Great Kiwi Home & Living Show, held at Forsyth Barr Stadium over the weekend, said he was "absolutely" chuffed with his purchases.
The two sheds — designed by former All Black Stephen Donald and fashion designer Tanya Carlson respectively — were auctioned at the show yesterday to raise funds for Movember New Zealand and the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Despite not entering the early stages of the auction action, Mr Knox’s left hand became twitchy when he realised the She Shed was going for much less than the $20,000 he was willing to spend when he arrived at the auction.
He outbid everyone else to take the shed for $12,500. And when he realised he could scoop up the Man Cave for little more than the price he was willing to pay for one of the sheds, he got involved in that auction as well, buying the shed for $10,500.
"Wow — that just happened,’’ Mr Knox said after the auction.
"I was prepared for one, but if the price is right. It’s a bargain."
When he spoke to the Otago Daily Times shortly after the auction at 2pm, he said he was yet to tell his wife but was sure she would be pleased with the purchases.
"It’ll keep the family and wife happy," he said.
"What better way to make everybody happy but to buy one each. Happy wife, happy life."
The sheds would create more accommodation at his three-bedroom home and they were "multipurpose, which is the best thing".
"They will be well used and well looked after," he said.
He was pleased to give the $23,000 to two good causes and felt the money was "well worth it" considering what he walked away with.
Ms Carlson was "delighted" by the $12,500 her She Shed raised for charity.
"I feel really, really good,’’ said Ms Carlson, whose 96-year-old great aunt is battling breast cancer.
"It’s such an unknown quantity going into an auction."
Both sheds were fully insulated and wired for electricity, and came with distinctly unique masculine and feminine features.
The show, which was a partnership between Dunedin Venues and the Otago Daily Times, was a great success, organisers said.
About 7000 people attended the show during the weekend.
"It’s been an incredible effort on behalf of everybody to put this show on in the space of six months from idea to completion," Allied Press chairman Sir Julian Smith said.
"We’ll take a week or two to review, but we are extremely excited about growing the event and coming back next year and making it an event that everyone and the city can be proud of."
Dunedin Venues chief executive Terry Davies was also full of praise.
"This has been a fantastic event wonderfully supported through exhibitors and attendees," he said.
"We have been blown away by the response — just terrific."
