Rotorua Supper Club raises record $172k for Ronald McDonald retreats

Jamie Main stood at the front of the crowd, eyes fixed on the auctioneer.

She lifted her hand in determined fashion one last time. Sold for $23,000.

Main’s bid for a luxury cruise helped shoot the Rotorua Supper Club into the record books last night with a massive $172,000 raised.

Organisers were emotional when they revealed the tally to the guests at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside - and the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Last year, just over $130,000 was raised and last night’s figure surpasses the record set in 2024 when $168,000 was raised.

All proceeds go to the running costs of the two Ronald McDonald Family Retreats in Rotorua. The luxury homes are used to house families of sick children or those who have lost a child to illness.

Supper Club includes groups of friends or businesses buying tables of eight people who go into a draw to find out where they are dining that night.

All food is donated by various venues around Rotorua that host the guests.

The crowd at Rotorua Supper Club 2026. Photo / Kelly Makiha

Before the guests head to dinner, donated items are sold in a live auction.

The top prize was the choice of one of 10 luxury cruises for two valued at $25,000, donated by Helloworld Travel Rotorua and Oceania Cruises.

Main told the Rotorua Daily Post moments after securing the winning bid that she was hell-bent on donating to the cause.

“I was going to get it no matter what.”

Supper Club cruise auction winner Jamie Main (centre) with sponsors Deborah Kay, owner of Helloworld Travel Rotorua (left) and Dani Enes from Oceania Cruises. Photo / Kelly Makiha

Main said the cause was close to her heart for family reasons.

She owns On The Point luxury lodge in Rotorua, which has in recent years reinvented itself into a national award-winning business after a difficult post-pandemic period.

Before bidding got underway, the audience heard “the why” - a special address from Waiheke Island mum Haley Pope, who spoke about her son’s ongoing health battles.

Hayley Pope speaks about her son, Logan, and their family's appreciation for the Ronald McDonald Family Retreats in Rotorua. Photo / Kelly Makiha

She said the family was able to relax and be normal for just one week thanks to theirstay in one of the Rotorua retreats.

“Your generosity ensures that families like ours have a safe place to stay together, to reconnect and make happy memories when their lives have been turned upside down.”

Among the auction prizes was a dinner with Mayor Tania Tapsell and Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive officer Andrew Moraes, which was won by House of Elliott owner Craig Elliott for $1800.

A signed All Whites jersey went for $2400 and a Joe Kemp carving sold for $4000.

There were still some tickets left last night for the mega raffle, which was to be drawn this week.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.