Tax agents help out hospice

A tax agents' conference in the Bay of Islands has resulted in a hefty donation to Hospice.

Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand regional coordinator Stan Adams, of Kerikeri, handed over a cheque for just over $2200 to Hospice Mid-Northland on Tuesday.

The money was raised during the institute's conference in March, when 140 members from as far away as Greymouth descended on the Copthorne Hotel at Waitangi.

Mr Adams said the collecting method was simple.

"We had a couple of guys dressed up as pirates, who extracted excess funds from our accountant members and sponsors. Also, any misdemeanours during the conference were duly noted and fines imposed," he said.

Each year the conference chose a deserving local cause, Mr Adams said.

"Hospice is a worthwhile charity, everybody needs them at some stage."

Hospice Mid-Northland fundraising manager Amanda Breton said the donation would help pay for equipment for patients being treated in their own homes.

While the organisation had an in-patient unit in Kerikeri, 95 per cent of patients wanted to be treated at home - the highest rate of any hospice in the country.

The service was free of charge and each patient was provided a hospital bed, pressure mattress, over-bed table and commode, which cost a total of $9997.

Hospice Mid-Northland provides specialist care for terminally ill people from Towai in the south to Taupo Bay in the north and from coast to coast.