Media release
Friday 13 October

Alice Cooper signed guitar up for grabs at music charity auction

A signed Alice Cooper guitar is on the card at a charity auction in aid of New Zealand’s sole music therapy centre.

It’s just one of a selection of great music memorabilia up for grabs at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust auction in Auckland on November 14.

The event also features performances by some of the country’s top musicians including the Mint Chicks and Opensouls.

The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre delivers music therapy to children with special needs.

Now in its sixth year, the auction is the major fundraising event for the charity which receives no government assistance but does get notable support from the New Zealand music industry.

Trust chair Campbell Smith says the evening at the Auckland Town Hall is always a big night.

“The auction is a really important event for us and I never cease to be amazed at the generosity of our supporters from the music industry and beyond for the event. And this year we again have a wonderful array of items on the auction sheet so we’re expecting a very big night.”

Amongst the items going under the hammer are the Alice Cooper guitar, flights to Sydney, luxury weekends at New Zealand resorts, some serious artworks, fashion garments and eyewear as well as music memorabilia.

The evening features two auctions, one live the other silent as well as performances by leading New Zealand artists.

They include The Mint Chicks, Opensouls Acoustic, Simon Oscroft and Jeremy Redmore from Midnight Youth and singer/songwriter Anna Coddington together with the Masque Vocal Ensemble.

And for the greybeards, Hello Sailor is making a special appearance following the band’s successful gig with The Who in March. The dinner and show is hosted by actor and TV personality Oliver Driver.

Tickets to the event cost $275 and are available through justine@janda.co.nz
The dinner auction and show is taking place at the Auckland Town Hall on November 14 starting at 6pm.

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 was 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.

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.
For more information, please visit www.rmtc.org.nz

Issued for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre

ENDS