The young singer-songwriter, who was raised in Gore and studies social work in Dunedin, has just started the two-week tour accompanying former Tear Fund sponsor-child Rafonzel Fazon, of the Philippines.
‘‘My role is to sing my own songs and covers for about 30 minutes before Rafonzel speaks,'' Miss Hanna said.
‘‘I'm involved because I'm a strong believer in looking after the poor and I feel Tear Fund is doing a pretty awesome job of that.''
The tour would include about a dozen performances throughout the South Island, Tear Fund regional manager Jane Laurie said.
‘‘It's exciting to have Kristy involved as she herself has seen child sponsorship in action, Mrs Laurie said.
Miss Hanna visited the Philippines to see Tear Fund projects in 2005 after touring New Zealand with the band Somebody's Cousin.
Now in her fourth year of studies, she does solo performances in cafes and bars and provides backing for other musicians.
She described her music as acoustic folk-pop.
Miss Hanna will be performing at Caversham Baptist Church, Surrey St, on Saturday at 7.30pm and at St Matthew's Anglican Church, Hope St, on Sunday at 10am.
Miss Fazon, a university graduate, was a Tear Fund sponsor-child who grew up surrounded by drugs and violence on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.
