The idea is to get New Zealanders to search their drawers and cupboards for any of the old pennies, shillings, pounds and old decimal coins, which are no longer legal tender.
Queenstown Lions Club member Simon Hayes is leading the campaign. He said any money, old or new, was more than welcome.
"We will accept any donation, also in foreign currency. But our main objective is to collect the old money, which people can no longer use. The Reserve Bank will then redeem it for cash for our projects."
"The Reserve Bank has estimated there is more than $80 million worth of old money still spread throughout New Zealand. There should also be an estimated $36 million in current coins in circulation, along with tens of millions of dollars in foreign coins and banknotes," Mr Hayes said.
Resene stores around the country will have collection buckets for the campaign. In the Queenstown shop in Gorge Rd, Resene shop assistant Tania Rolle said the buckets were already ready for donations, which can be dropped off during shop hours 7.30am-5pm on weekdays and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
"Resene has been a great support for us. Apart from being collection spots, they are also helping out with logistics, by transporting the collected money for us," Mr Hayes said.
The aim is to collect more than a million dollars nationwide, and Mr Hayes hoped at least $10,000 would be collected in Queenstown.
The donations will go towards Lions Club's youth programmes - Young Speechmaker, Overseas Youth Exchange, International Peace Poster Competition, Young Ambassadors and Leo Club activities, along with outdoor education programmes supported by Lions, such as the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Spirit of Adventure and Outward Bound.
