This painting by Misery (Tanya Thompson) went for $1820.
The instant fame of bikini streaker Lisa Lewis has proved no match for rugby star Marc Ellis in a quirky fundraising auction for the Auckland City Mission.
The three-week auction on Trade Me has raised $50,000 for the mission through bidding for 107 prizes ranging from private yoga lessons to
a two-hour session with "Super Gran" Diane Levy on how to handle your children.
Ellis streaked ahead of the pack with 534 bids for a round of golf, lunch and "a couple of cold lagers" with him at Wairakei. The winning bidder paid $1999.99.
Ms Lewis, the Tauranga solo mother who streaked across the field in a bikini during the All Black test against Ireland in Hamilton in June, came in fourth with 211 bidders keen to race round the track with her in a Formula Challenge V8. The winner paid $1345 for the privilege.
She was pipped by 287 bidders for a painting by 24-year-old Auckland artist Misery (Tanya Thompson), which went for $1820, and 277 bids for a tour of the Shortland Street set with stars Laura Hill (Toni) and Nicole Thompson (Scarlett), at $1600.
The top individual bid was $2600 for an off-the-rack wedding dress by Auckland designer Kate Dowman. Another bidder paid $1310 for another Kate Dowman wedding gown made for Shortland St's Fleur Savill.
TV3 Campbell Live presenter Jacquie Brown attracted 191 bids with the winners paying $605 to have her come to their home to cook a roast, and 179 people bid up to $400 to have TV3 weather presenter Toni Marsh record a message on their answerphone.
The auction was not all about celebrities. There were 123 bids and a top bid of $815 to secure the services of carpenter Kevin Ross and electrician Kent Williams for a day.
The fourth-highest individual bid was $1757 for an under-12-year-old to spend a day with the Oceania champions Auckland City Football Club at their first home game of the season in October.
City Missioner Diane Robertson said the $50,000 raised would go towards food, clothing and other services for Auckland's most marginalised people.
Although the auction closed on Sunday, the mission's household envelope appeal continues until August 14.
