What would you pay for lunch with Jacinda?

Two charity auction lunches with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern were sold for $30,000 each. Photo / Dean Purcell

Two people each paid $30,000 to have lunch with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at a charity auction at the Halberg Awards last week.

Ardern, who attended the ceremony with Clarke Gayford on Thursday night, made a surprise offer of a lunch in the middle of the auction.

She offered one lunch at parliamentary restaurant Bellamy's, but it was so popular that she then offered a second one.

"The auction was midway through when I wondered if I could do something small to help. I know what amazing work the trust does to help young people with disabilities participate in sports," Ardern told the Herald.

Anyone who was at the event could bid on the auction.

"I didn't quite expect a simple lunch at the Beehive to receive quite such a generous donation. I hope the restaurant puts on a good buffet the day the auction winner comes through."

She did not disclose who she will be lunching with.

Halberg spokeswoman Bonnie Smail said that the bidding "took off", with each netting $30,000 for the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation.

"It was a surprise addition to the auction."

Smail said she could not provide any details about the winners of the auction.

"There were two winners each receiving one lunch each. Exact time and details are to be confirmed as it was only included on the night.

"The Halberg Foundation is very grateful for the generous donation, as the funds will go towards our important disability sport work".

The annual Halberg Awards is the major fundraiser for the Halberg Foundation, the charity set up by Olympic champion Sir Murray Halberg in 1963 to help enable physically disabled young New Zealanders to participate in sport and recreation.

The core work of the foundation includes a team of disability sport advisers based around the country to help young people and their families to connect to sports and recreation.

They also work with schools, clubs and sports organisations to providing training and support to assist with sports events and programmes.

The foundation also hosts the Halberg Junior Disability Games, which is a national three-day competition for physically disabled and vision-impaired young people.

Nearly 150 athletes from around NZ competed at the 2017 event.