Miss Taranaki contestants walk dogs to raise funds for rescue chopper

Two contestants of the Miss Taranaki pageant will be walking dogs for the next couple of weeks to raise money for the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust Fund.

The pageant promotes "Beauty making a difference" to raise money for charitable funds.

Contestants Tamera Matene and Shania West will be dog walking.

"Raising money for charitable causes is truly amazing," Tamera says. "Being able to do something we both enjoy makes it even better."

Tamera and Shania have created a dog-walking event page on Facebook where the community can book appointments. They charge $15 for half an hour per dog and all funds go straight to the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter.

"We're going to be walking the dogs in our free time over the next couple weeks. Walking dogs is something I would do for fun, so being able to do it and raise funds for a good cause is even better." Tamera says.

Shania also enjoys walking dogs.

"It is great exercise. I love dogs and it's great that I'm raising money for a charity by doing something I love."

"Miss Taranaki is mainly New Plymouth based, and most of the contestants are from New Plymouth. It's good that the Stratford Community are able to get involved in Miss Taranaki and the good it does by raising funds for charities," she said.