A sold-out black tie event in Whanganui next month will boost the coffers of SPCA branches across the Whanganui-Manawatu region.
The Great Debate is being staged in Heritage House on November 5 and all 15 tables, seating 10 people at $100 a seat, have been pre-sold.
Marty O'Fee, the SPCA marketing and fundraising manager in Palmerston North, said Whanganui was preferred as the venue because of Heritage House.
And Mr O'Fee has lined up a stellar cast of debaters for the night. They include notable businesswoman Theresa Gattung, recognised several times by Fortune magazine as one of the 50 most powerful women in global business, radio and Tv personality Mark Sainsbury, soil scientist and columnist Jacqueline Rowarth, and Whanganui MP Chester Borrows.
Rounding out the speakers Whanganui High School old boy and former NZ debating team member Rhaz Solomon, and current High School student Gabrielle Penn, a reserve for the national schools debating team.
T
hey will argue for or against the topic that taxpayers should fund the SPCA.