The Wheels at Wanaka Charitable Trust has announced $53,140 in donations following a successful event that saw 25,000 visitors attend the 2021 show over the Easter Weekend.
The amount raised was more than double that of the inaugural 2019 event, which saw $25,000 distributed to charity and community groups. Numbers through the gate also doubled the 12,000 that came through in 2019.
Of the donations this year, $20,000 will go to the Heartland Tractor Trek. Led by Pace Engineering chief executive Steve Day, a group of nine Chamberlain tractors trekked from Taranaki via Christchurch to Wanaka and back. The group has now raised more than $115,000 for Heart Kids NZ.
The trust has also donated a total of $12,640 between Warbirds Over Wanaka Flying Scholarships, Aspiring Gymsports, Wanaka Swim Club, Wanaka Yacht Club, and Rotary Wanaka.
The Wheels at Wanaka event also provided free market space to Upper Clutha Plunket, Wanaka Lions and Wanaka Rowing Club. The Wanaka Lions had the busiest weekend in many years at the event, donating $2000 directly to Heart Kids.
The trust was donating $5000 to West Otago Vintage Club and $1500 each to the Southland Steam and Traction Engine Club, South Canterbury Traction Engine and Transport Museum, Binders Down Under, NZ Vintage Machinery Club, and Central Otago branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand.
The biggest show of its kind in Australasia, the show featured a vintage fair of steam, traction and stationary engines, tractors and farming heritage, cars, motorcycles and trucks, vintage, classics and exotics, earthmovers and heavy machinery.
“Wheels at Wanaka is now a major event for the region, attracting visitors from throughout New Zealand and we look forward to welcoming our international visitors back in 2023,” said Wheels at Wanaka Charitable Trust chairman, Allan Dippie.
Other organisations that raised funds via Wheels at Wanaka included the Oxford Land Rover Owners National Rally, who donated $4500 to LANDSAR Wanaka, and Wanaka Powersports who donated $1500 to Rural Support, Otago through Greg Murphy‘s Polaris RZR Demonstrations.
