Earthquake volunteers get big thanks from Hokitika Wildfoods Festival

Volunteers from the Student Volunteer Army and Farmy Army will take a well earned break at this weekend’s Hokitika Wildfoods Festival after festival organisers offered 500 free tickets to those wishing to attend.

The volunteers have been working tirelessly cleaning Christchurch streets and property since the devastating earthquake.

We’re strong believers in credit where credit is due says Wildfoods Festival organiser Mike Keenan.

“It is fantastic to think these groups got up so quickly to help Christchurch, they’ve been a godsend to the city”.

“The students were amazing last earthquake and have pulled together again, and farmers are such busy people it’s wonderful they’ve given so much time and energy. This is a way we can say thank you,” he says.

Student Volunteer Army organiser Jade Rutherford says the students are delighted with the offer with many of the organisers, team leaders and volunteers definitely planning to attend.

“It’s really important we take care of our volunteers, they’ve worked so hard over the last two weeks. It’s great to be able to offer them tickets to the festival so they can get out of town and have a break for a couple of days,” she says.

“Last weekend we had a two day break and volunteers arrived back refreshed and raring to go”.

Federated Farmers Field Officer Vicky O’Connor says the Farmy Army have had an enormous team of volunteers helping since the quake.

“Volunteers have been there for the long haul and they deserve some recognition, it’s great to be able to thank them with the festival tickets,” she says.

The festival is now in its 22nd year and is firmly established among the top 300 unmissable festivals in the whole world, as rated by Frommers Travel Guides.

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