Guide dogs to benefit from NZ Open auction

For the first time, the Michael Hill New Zealand Golf Open will be used to raise money for a charity, with an auction scheduled as part of the event which begins next Thursday.

Real estate agency Bayleys has organised the auction, which aims to raise more than $75,000 for the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's Guide Dog Services. Bayleys is the principal sponsor of the service.

Guide dogs assist blind and partially sighted people to move around independently, confidently and safely. They are trained to guide their handlers around hazards, negotiate traffic, locate common destinations, for example the supermarket and workplace, and travel on planes and buses.

Bayleys Queenstown and Southland director David Murray said weekend breaks at luxury lodges and holiday resorts throughout New Zealand, a deep sea fishing trip and entry into the corporate golf day at The Hills on February 1 were some of the items on offer in the auction, which will be held next Thursday, in the corporate hospitality and merchandising enclosure, next to the 13th fairway at The Hills.

It will be open to members of the public.

"With 29 corporate hospitality tents and retail outlets, the players' lounge, the scoreboard, and New Zealand Golf's headquarters surrounding the merchandising enclosure, there will be hundreds of golfing enthusiasts milling around and welcome to join in the bidding for this highly worthwhile cause.

"We would hope that some of the funds raised for Guide Dog Services at the New Zealand Golf Open charity auction could come back and support a local Otago or Southland recipient.''

Mr Murray said he hoped auctioning the 12 "high value'' items would raise enough money to fund at least three guide dogs.

It cost more than $22,500 to breed, raise, train and match a guide dog. Guide dogs were provided to handlers free of charge and the costs were met by Bayleys' sponsorship and other donations.

"There are approximately 240 working guide dogs in New Zealand which are all trained by the RNZFB's Guide Dog Services.

"The Otago and Southland regions are home to both fully fledged guide dogs and guide dog puppy trainers.

"Bayleys is proud to be able to support the service locally and across the country,'' Mr Murray said.

Further items were expected to be announced by the end of this week. Bayleys was negotiating with two Otago and Southland businesses to "put together an auction package never seen before in the region''.

The item was expected to be one of the most sought after lots in the fund-raiser, he said.