Top acts drawn to fundraiser

Te Whare Kurao Ngati Rongomai students with Matariki Rika, 8, (front) and principal Tukiterangi Curtis (back) show their support for Kanea Hicks ahead of this weekend's Koiora Music Fundraiser. Photo / File

More than 20 well-known artists from across the country will perform in Rotorua to support two young people with strong ties to the city who are recovering from serious injuries.

The Koiora Music Fundraiser will be held tomorrow from 2pm to 11.30pm at Rotorua Girls' High School to raise money for the families of Kanea Hicks and Kaine Lewis.

Miss Hicks is a member of Rotorua-based kapa haka group Te Matarae i Orehu and is recovering from a serious assault in Auckland in July. The 27-year-old is now based at the ABI Rehabilitation facility in West Auckland.

Kaine, 16, suffered serious injuries in a car crash on Te Ngae Rd last month. The Rotorua Boys' High School student has since moved from the high dependency unit into the general ward of Waikato Hospital.

Concert organiser and Te Matarae i Orehu member Hinerongonui Kingi said the event was an opportunity to bring the Rotorua community together to do something to help Miss Hicks and Kaine's families, at a difficult time.

Ms Kingi said the fundraiser would feature 21 local and national artists and acts, including Troy Kingi, Tama Waipara, Adam Whauwhau, Harley Cruz, DJ Massive, Hazaduz, Maisey Rika, 1814 (acoustic set), Ria Hall and more. It would also feature Rotorua Boys' High School's 2014 Pacifica Beats runners-up, Open Arms.

Ms Kingi said she was overwhelmed by the number of artists who had offered their time to perform at the event.

"It's been a very humbling experience to be a part of it. It's been amazing to see so many high-calibre artists get on board, many of them travelling from as far as Wellington, Auckland, Whakatane and Tauranga, to show their support," she said.

"The support both from those in the Rotorua community and those outside it has been phenomenal."

Ms Kingi said she hoped more than 1500 people would attend tomorrow's concert.

"The more people that come along, the more money that can be raised for these whanau."

Donation buckets will be around the venue for those with spare coins and a raffle will also be on offer.

Tickets are $25 for an adult and $20 for students and can be bought online from www.maorinet.co.nz or at RK Nutrition on Eruera St. Door sales are available but limited. All funds raised will be equally split between the two families.

Details

What: koiora music fundraiser
Where: rotorua girls' high school arena
When: tomorrow, from 2pm to 11.30pm
Cost: adults $25, $20 students, under 5s gold coin entry