Ports of Auckland is holding a charity auction for the chance to tour its new giant container cranes with all funds going to Diabetes NZ.
A Trade Me auction has been set up for 27 tickets to experience the 83-metre high cranes as part of this year’s SeePort Festival which runs from February 26 to 28.
The three container cranes are the tallest of their kind in New Zealand, each weighing 2100 tonnes at a total cost of $60 million.
They were built in Shanghai and arrived in Auckland on October 5 last year.
Ticket holders will get the chance ride up the crane in a tiny lift, visit the machine room to see how the crane works, walk out over the water along the boom and climb up the 83-metre apex for some stunning harbour views.
“The cranes are not in service yet, so this is a unique chance to explore an area that is normally closed to the public. This has never been done before and is unlikely to be repeated once the cranes are in service, so don’t miss out,” Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson says.
All money raised from the sale of the tours will be donated to Diabetes NZ. Trade Me has waived all auction fees.
Ports of Auckland’s John Miller, who led the crane delivery project and will host the tours, has a personal connection to the cause – his son Dean is a type 1 diabetic.
“Growing up with diabetes is not easy, and as a family we’ve been grateful for the support Diabetes New Zealand has given us. I’m really pleased to be able to give something back to this excellent charity through my work,” John says.
Diabetes NZ Auckland branch manager Sheena Duffy Vakatale says the organisation is “excited to be named as the charity partner”.
Diabetes is a serious long-term condition with over 94,000 people in Auckland affected with 1 or type 2 diabetes, and each year more people are being diagnosed.
The funds raised will provide much needed assistance for youth programmes which support and educate children with type 1 and their families.
It will also support community-based prevention and awareness programmes, like a mobile awareness service that visits communities across Auckland providing information and testing those most at risk of diabetes, and the HOPE (Healthy Options Positive Eating) programme which teaches culturally appropriate healthy eating and exercise habits.
