More than 90 shaved heads gleamed in the winter sun on arrival at Queenstown Airport yesterday and their owners have raised at least $75,000 in support of the Leukaemia and Blood Foundation.
Among the VIPs on the chartered Air New Zealand flight was legendary American boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, who flew in direct from the United States as special guest at the Queenstown Winter Festival's charitable boxing tournament, last night.
Leonard, travelling with his son Sugar Ray Leonard jun, said he had never visited the resort before and the scenery was beautiful from above.
"I'm looking forward to being a fan and spectator tonight [at the boxing match]. I was [in New Zealand] last year for Tua vs Cameron and Tua showed he was a force to be reckoned with."
Freshly shorn MoreFM breakfast host Jeremy Corbett was also on the Auckland flight.
"I was lucky enough to be sitting on the plane with Sugar Ray and his son and you know when you're with someone and sometimes you overstate things [about New Zealand], but the view lived up to it - and that's only the landing."
A total of 81 customers and 10 crew and staff members happily disembarked hairless and posed for photographs.
Several headed straight into the resort to compete in the festival's Birdman competition.
Eagle Air general manager Carrie Hurihanganui, of Hamilton, said she was feeling the cold after losing her shoulder-length locks, but felt pleased as well.
She had raised $2700 so far and with a colleague was aiming for $4000.
"For me, it was very important I had the choice. People with radiation treatment and lose their hair don't have a choice in the matter."
