Music industry raises funds for therapy centre

November 18, 2008
 

Music industry raises funds for therapy centre

The New Zealand music industry has raised more than $150,000 for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust at a charity gala auction in Auckland on Saturday night (Nov. 15).

The funds will go towards operational costs at the Auckland-based trust’s therapy centre for children with special needs. The centre receives no statutory funding and the trust needs to raise $400,000 each year to keep it running.

Highlights of the auction were:

a Mazda 2 customised by fashion designers Stitch Ministry which fetched $20,000;
the ‘ultimate’ Kiwi Music Dinner set decorated by eight of the country’s best-loved musicians knocked down for $8,000;

Chris Knox’s interpretation of the Beatles Rubber Soul cover reaching $12,500;
ten VIP tickets to the Big Day Out snatched for $3,500;
a private acoustic performance by Bic Runga at an exclusive cocktail party at The Wharf soared to $18,000. 

Hosted by Dai Henwood, the evening featured donated performances by numerous musicians including Hollie Smith and the Mount Roskill Primary School Choir, Hinewehi Mohi with Joel and Nathan Haines, Elemeno P, Supergroove and Opshop. Henwood and auctioneer Brett Trigger also gave their services.

Trust chairperson Campbell Smith says the funds raised will be put to good use.

“The trust is self-funding and relies on generous folk to help us support the great work that is done.

“As the reputation of the centre grows, we are also seeing more demand for its services, and these all need financial backing.

“I am delighted the music industry and supporters have once again come out to help back what is a crucial service for so many families.”

It is the fifth year New Zealand musicians and friends have come together in support of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre.

The centre works with more than 100 children each week, either at its premises in the Auckland suburb of Newton or in the outreach programme it runs with schools.

About The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre

The Centre provides music therapy for children of school age and younger. It is New Zealand’s first music therapy centre.

The idea grew from a Kiwi family’s experience of music therapy in the UK and, subsequently, the realisation there was a need to provide a similar service here.

Singer and songwriter Hinewehi Mohi, her husband George and daughter Hineraukatauri spent time at the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London in 1999.

Hineraukatauri has severe cerebral palsy. It was soon evident that therapy through music struck a chord for her. For the first time in her life, she had an opportunity to participate in and control an activity and to actually create something. Most important for Hineraukatauri, music became a means to communicate.

Upon their return to New Zealand, the family determined to establish a music therapy centre here. The dream was realised with the opening in early 2004 of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in Auckland.

The centre moved to bigger premises in Newton in 2005, comprising two therapy rooms, AV room, , office space, consulting room, a large musical instrument collection and associated facilities.

Currently there are four registered music therapists, a director and a centre administrator.  The work at the centre focuses primarily on children with special needs, however, the aim is ultimately to provide therapy for all age groups within the wider community.

For more information, please visit www.rmtc.org.nz or contact 0900 MUSICT to make an automatic $20 telephone donation.  

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