The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Blu Heelers raise $20,000 for Hospice Mid-Northland

Northern Advocate
19 Nov, 2019 07:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Adele Woodward, left, Dianne Quinn, Belinda Watkins general manager Hospice Mid-Northland, Rhys Dempster and Cliff Metcalfe. Photo / Supplied

Adele Woodward, left, Dianne Quinn, Belinda Watkins general manager Hospice Mid-Northland, Rhys Dempster and Cliff Metcalfe. Photo / Supplied

Hospice Mid-Northland have landed a massive winner after anglers hooked $20,000 in fundraising for the charity as part of the annual Blu Heelers fishing competition.

Sixty-five boats with 185 anglers competed in the three-day event held in the Bay of Islands last week.

The Blu Heelers Fishing Tournament was in its 21st year and attracted fishers from across the ditch.

The event has raised over $350,000 over the years with money being given to charities including Whangārei Hospice, Kids Can, and The Northland Rescue Helicopter.

This year's event raised the biggest amount yet.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hospice Mid-Northland fundraising and awareness officer Adele Woodward said there were currently 78 patients using the service. She said only 41 percent of the running costs of the service was met by the Northland District Health Board and the rest had to fundraised.

Woodward said the amount of money donated through the fishing competition was life-changing and meant they could purchase their own medical equipment rather than having to juggle equipment between patients.

"This is a major boost for our team who help people in the most vulnerable time of the live."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Committee member Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said anglers had thrown their weight behind the tournament and supported the raffles and auctions that boosted the coffers.

Fish caught during the three days was sold at the end of every day.

Metcalfe said only fish over 40cm could be kept and the winner was judged on landing the longest fish, rather than the heaviest. The winning snapper was 85.6cm.

Anglers were encouraged to take a photo of their fish on a measuring mat and email it to organisers then release their fish.

Discover more

Luxurious yachts anchor in Whangārei boosting local economy

19 Nov 04:00 PM

"We are conservation-minded and committed to sustainable fishing in the Bay of Islands," Metcalfe said.

There were snapper, kahawai and kingfish divisions along with crayfish and pack horse cray sections.

Sponsors had also come to the party with Shimano donating a huge amount of gear for prizes. One of the biggest prizes was a $7500 package from the world class resort Eagle's Nest.

A 2019 Rugby World Cup All Blacks jersey signed by players and management was donated for auctions and was sold for $3500.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

'We love you Jocko': Hundreds pay tribute to Stewart Island hunting accident victim

The Country

City to Farm - how leftovers are giving back to the land

The Country

The Country: Tasman farmer on flooding aftermath


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

'We love you Jocko': Hundreds pay tribute to Stewart Island hunting accident victim
The Country

'We love you Jocko': Hundreds pay tribute to Stewart Island hunting accident victim

Jock Davies was remembered for his infectious humour, caring nature and great strength.

14 Jul 04:21 AM
City to Farm - how leftovers are giving back to the land
The Country

City to Farm - how leftovers are giving back to the land

14 Jul 03:16 AM
The Country: Tasman farmer on flooding aftermath
The Country

The Country: Tasman farmer on flooding aftermath

14 Jul 02:16 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP