Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s intrepid Chief Executive, Fiona Kingsford, has taken fundraising to new heights this year with a bungy jump off the top of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, raising $10,000 for the charity.

Her efforts to support Plunket’s annual Dunk it for Plunket appeal brought two Kiwi icons – AJ Hackett and Plunket – together for what must be the very first time!

Dunk it for Plunket is Plunket’s major fundraising event for the year – it enables Plunket to keep delivering community support services for whānau around Aotearoa, including parenting groups and home help for those who need it most.

Dunk it encourages New Zealanders to get together each September with friends and workmates for a cuppa and to dunk a biscuit, or dunk anything they like – and Fiona took this once step further this year by dunking herself off the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

“It was 10 seconds of terror followed by 10 minutes of uncontrollable laughter and shaking legs,” she says.

But conquering her fear of heights was well worth it. “It’s a pretty incredible cause – keeping Plunket’s services going strong so future generations can thrive. I made a commitment to doing the jump if I met my fundraising target of $10,000 – and we got there, so I had to follow through!

“Many thanks to AJ Hackett who generously supported my bungy jump and of course to Arnott’s for their fantastic ongoing partnership of Dunk It for Plunket – and to Mike Cullerne, Managing Director Arnott’s (NZ), who was brave enough to leap off the bridge with me and smash his fundraising goal too – taking Arnott’s support to a whole new level!

“As a charity, we simply could not do all the important mahi we do in our communities without the generosity of those who donate to us. A huge thank-you to everyone who has supported Plunket’s annual appeal this year – especially those who helped me to reach my fundraising goal!’

• See Plunket CE Fiona Kingsford’s bungy jump here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/13eQA5vNaDc
• To learn more about Dunk it for Plunket, go to Dunk it for Plunket 2025 It’s not too late to donate!

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