Charity begins at home they say and once again locals are being asked to dig deep for Tauranga's most popular charity auction, which raises funds for worthy Bay organisations.
During the Tauranga police CIB 14th annual charity luncheon and auction, from 11.30am on October 3 at Baypark, 40 to 50 prized lots go under the hammer.
Kiwi icons are again helping raise cash.
The lots include a framed poster Operation Concord Afghanistan, which is signed by SAS hero Willie Apiata, VC.
The New Zealand SAS mission to Afghanistan was dubbed Operation Concord.
A framed $5 note is signed by the late Sir Edmund Hillary while a guitar is signed by popular musicians and brothers Neil and Tim Finn.
During the past two years the auction has raised more than $350,000 for local charities.
This year's proceeds go to the Friends of Brain Injured Children of NZ Charitable Trust, Avalon Incorporated, BOP Junior Rugby, Steve Williams Foundation, Gwen Rodgers Kindergarten and Omanu Primary School.
Event organiser Detective Sergeant Pete Blackwell said that, with so many worthy groups doing fantastic work in the community, it was always hard to decide who should benefit each year.
Mr Blackwell said junior rugby was chosen because of its huge youth development focus and also due to BOP Rugby's successful partnership with Tauranga police's Blue Light activities.
From its humble beginnings, when a group of detectives gathered over a few beers at Bureta Park Motor Inn to hear Gordon Tietjens discuss rugby icon Jonah Lomu, the auction now attracts celebrities from the sporting community.
Tietjens, the NZ Sevens coach, will attend and if at all possible Olympic bronze medallist Mahe Drysdale will watch his signed and framed 2008 Olympic rowing top go under the hammer.
An item sure to entice furious bidding is the chance to enter the inner sanctum of the NZ SAS, with an afternoon's training session for four at the squad's Papakura base.
Guest speaker Steve Williams will share his experiences as caddy to Tiger Woods and will be armed with a "special" item from his boss.
Among the prized local contributions will be a painting by Tauranga artist Kate Jones-Madill. Her painting last year fetched the highest bid $15,000.
Included in the prized sports memorabilia is a 2008 framed US Masters flag signed by South African winner Trevor Immelman and a framed Kinloch golf course shirt signed by American golf legend Jack Nicklaus.
With corporate boxes, a special accommodation package, a new surfboard donated by Lloyd Buckley, exclusive bottles of NZ SAS wine, a six-month lease of a car, and six tonnes of urea, there is something for everyone.
Mr Blackwell said the top dozen items would go under the hammer with a live auction and the others by silent bid.
"In these tough times it is really hard to put a figure on how much we hope to raise.
"But I'm sure some serious money will change hands because there are a large number of items of real good value, several I expect to better $10,000."
Former All Black Buck Anderson will be MC while auctioneer extraordinaire Frank Vosper will again keeping the bidding fast and furious.
Get in early to buy tickets as there are strictly no door sales and tickets have been sold in a fortnight during recent years.
For tickets at $100 each, send a cheque payable to Tauranga CIB to Detective Pete Blackwell, PO Box 144, Tauranga or call at Robertson's Menswear at the Mount. For more details visit www.taurangapolicecharity.co.nz