Mercedes cash legacy from Rena for cancer charity

Updated: Monday 20 August

More than a dozen online bidders are competing against each other for a top-of-the-line Mercedes Benz that was recovered from Rena.

The 2003 Mercedes C200 Kompressor is valued at more than $15,000 and is being auctioned on TradeMe over the next two weeks to raise money for Child Cancer Foundation Tauranga.

The auction began on Friday and has already generated a top bid of $11,600.

At midday today, 15 people had bid on the car. The auction page had been viewed more than 28,500 times.

Child Cancer Foundation fundraising and business development manager Delwynne Hahunga said the response had been "fantastic".

This has obviously got a lot of coverage … and it's gone quite viral. It's great."

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Monique Balvert-O'Connor, spokeswoman for salvors Braemar Howells, said the car was in an intact container on the forward section of Rena, above the waterline. A helicopter lifted the container from the ship on April 24.

She said they could not disclose any details about the former owner, who had previously been paid out by the insurer of the car, which then abandoned ownership to the salvors.

(Story continues below - photos by JRC)

 

"In the same container were household effects belonging to the owner of the Mercedes," she said.

"These were undamaged and returned to the owner free of charge by the salvors and Rena's owners and insurers."

Ms Balvert-O'Connor said Child Cancer Foundation was seen as a good cause. "The decision was made by representatives of the Rena owners and insurers - who had previously donated one of the Rena lifeboats for auction."

The previous owner of the car had been made aware of the auction and the car was now owned by the Child Cancer Foundation, Tauranga, Ms Balvert-O'Connor said. It also sports the number plate X Rena.

Mount Maunganui Collision Repairs owner Tom Johnston volunteered his time and work to help bring the car back to prime condition after its bumpy journey at sea. "It was really just cosmetic stuff," he said.

"There was nothing structural about it at all, just minor dents. It was basically like the sort of dents you get in the carpark but right around the whole thing."

Child Cancer Foundation fundraising and business development manager Delwynne Hahunga said she was overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who had made the auction possible.

"The Rena disaster had a huge effect on the Bay of Plenty, threatening wildlife and fishing waters as well as the local economy. We are so thankful for the enthusiasm and willingness of local businesses who want the car to go to a good cause, particularly Vero Marine Insurance who donated the car for auction," she said.

Mount Maunganui Collision Repairs and Ingham-Sears, the Mercedes-Benz specialists at the Mount, helped with the car's repairs. The car has been insured until the point of sale by Bay Insurance Brokers, who arranged cover with New Zealand Insurance.

Anyone interested in bidding on the car can visit Safeway Auto Auctions on Totara St, Mount Maunganui.