8th July 2011

Copper trails, brass razoos and gold sovereigns are all part of the Lions Clubs of New Zealand unusual campaign which celebrates its first birthday this month.

Launched in July last year, Heads Up for Kids is a unique collection which asks New Zealanders to dig out and donate old decimal and pre decimal New Zealand currency, and all foreign money. The obsolete cash is then redeemed for New Zealand dollars and used to fund education programmes and scholarships for New Zealand youth.

A number of young people have already benefited from Heads Up for Kids, receiving scholarships to Spirit of Adventure and Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centres.

Over the course of the year, Lions have collected eight and a half tonnes of coins and thousands of banknotes bringing the total raised to $200,000. This hefty amount is made up of three tonnes of old New Zealand coin which has been redeemed for face value at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand; two tonnes of foreign coin shipped off shore and exchanged for New Zealand dollars, and over three tonnes of copper coins sold for scrap metal. A number of rare and unusual coins also make up the tonnage; these are valued and sold on to coin collectors.

“We’re delighted with the success of Heads Up for Kids. The beauty of this project, in tight economic times, is that it isn’t taking real money out of anyone’s pockets. It’s overwhelming how many people have dug out their old NZ money and cash from overseas trips to help us in supporting New Zealand youth, “said Simon Hayes, Queenstown Lion and campaign chair.

It’s an excellent way of recycling too. Alan Boaden, Head of Currency at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, says: “old coins returned to the Reserve Bank are sold for scrap. It is better for the country to sell the copper and nickel in old coins than have them sitting idle in peoples’ homes.”

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has estimated that there is $116 million in old NZ coins and banknotes unaccounted for. There’s plenty more to be collected and Lions Clubs of New Zealand aim to collect $1 million.

Old money and foreign currency can be taken to any Resene Colorshop or retailer, participating New World stores in Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Taranaki, and Hawkes Bay, or call 0800 Old Money for a Lions Club member to collect.

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Heads Up for Kids scholarship recipient, Balkaran Singh age 14 of New Plymouth Boys High School in the photograph which accompanied his scholarship nomination.

ENDS

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