Lifewise has teamed up with Trade Me to highlight the growing problem of homelessness in New Zealand with a unique auction that promises the “ultimate B&B experience”.
The Trade Me auction promises a “once in a lifetime” experience, with “gold standard open-plan living under the twinkling city lights” with a “deluxe cardboard mattress, and luxurious tarpaulin to use in case of rain”.
Lifewise General Manager Moira Lawler says that Trade Me auction is a slightly cheeky way to shine a light on the harsh realities of being homeless in New Zealand. “People sleeping rough in our city centre are facing some long, cold nights ahead. The streets should never be anyone’s home. The Lifewise Big Sleepout is how we raise the funds we desperately need to help people struggling with homelessness to get off the streets and into permanent homes.”
The highest bidder will win a truly unique experience – sharing a sleeping patch without shelter with some of New Zealand’s finest leaders at the Lifewise Big Sleepout. All funds raised through the auction will go towards Lifewise’s work housing the homeless, and giving people the support they need to get back on their feet.
Trade Me head of community Paul Ford said it was a no-brainer to help such a great cause. “Lifewise do fantastic work around the harsh reality of homelessness in New Zealand. This is a little way that we can help them out with a great initiative and raise awareness of how hard life can be on the street.
“It’s one of the more unusual accommodation experiences we’ve seen auctioned off. Hopefully our members get into the spirit of the auction because someone will win themselves something pretty unique.”
This year’s Big Sleepout participants include Blues players Josh Bekhuis and Joe Edwards, singer Lizzie Marvelly, AUT Vice Chancellor, Derek McCormack, BNZ Chief Executive Anthony Healy, KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy, Heritage Hotels Chief Executive Graham Yan, and Signature Homes Chief Executive Paul Bull.
The event sees companies that are competitors by day coming together by night to raise over $200,000 for Lifewise’s life-changing work with the homeless. This year’s teams include AUT, the University of Auckland, Westpac, ANZ, Vodafone, Spark, 2Degrees, Skinny Mobile.
The Lifewise Big Sleepout is an annual event and will be held this year at AUT on the night of 2 July. The Big Sleepout shines a spotlight on homelessness, and raises the vital funds needed to end homelessness in New Zealand.
To make a donation or for more information, visit www.bigsleepout.org.nz. To view the auction click here.
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The streets should never be anyone’s home. Please donate to the Lifewise Big Sleepout today and get a vulnerable person off the street and into a home.
