March 14th 2012

Photo and Caption: Silverstream Lion Roy Peterson (Left) and Fastway Courier driver Carl Simons check in a tonne of old New Zealand currency at Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Lions Clubs New Zealand’s nationwide campaign Heads Up for Kids reached a hefty milestone when its 10th tonne of coins was delivered to the Reserve Bank on Tuesday.

Two containers weighing 500kgs each and valued at $19,000 weren’t full of regular cash, but out-of-date New Zealand currency ranging from threepences and half crowns to large 50 cent pieces. The money has been collected throughout the country as part of the Heads Up for Kids campaign which collects old money and foreign currency for the benefit of New Zealand youth.

The money will be redeemed at face value for legal tender and will raise the total collected to NZ$300,000. These funds are used to sponsor education programmes for New Zealand’s youth.

A number of young people have already benefited from the collection by receiving scholarships and funding to attend Spirit of Adventure and the Sir Edmund Hilary Outdoor Pursuits Centres. They were nominated based on their positive attitude toward their school and community.

The 10-tonne total is made up of old New Zealand money and foreign currency; the old New Zealand money is redeemed at the Reserve Bank and the foreign money shipped to Australia by the tonne and exchanged. Copper and collectable coins are sold for the metal and collectible values. Kind kiwis have been making donations at Resene stores nationwide and selected New World supermarkets for the past 18 months, the cash is then collected and delivered by courier sponsor Fastway to be counted in Wellington.

Roy Peterson of Silverstream Lions Club has been leading the counting and sorting of all cash donated; since he began he has sorted more than 2.5 million foreign and old New Zealand coins and hundreds of banknotes. Among the millions of coins he has discovered a range of unusual and rare commodities from tokens for Las Vegas strip clubs through to 18th century francs and gold sovereigns.
“It’s an interesting project,” says Mr Peterson. “You never know what you will come across.”

Mr Peterson says that the Lions Clubs New Zealand aim to collect one million dollars and will continue to provide positive experiences for good New Zealand kids who may not otherwise get the opportunity.

Donations can be made at Resene Colorshops nationwide and selected New World stores, or by calling 0800 Old Money for a Lions Club member to collect.

www.lionsclubs.org.nz/oldmoney www.facebook.com/Headsupforkids

ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

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