NZ’s happiest campers scoop $149,000 prize

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New Zealand’s happiest campers scoop $149,000 prize

Winning a luxury $149,000 Kea motorhome has made Whangarei residents Max Pullen and Sue Wood New Zealand’s happiest campers.

The couple scooped the prestigious first prize in the New Zealand Motor Caravan Association (NZMCA) raffle, drawn at the Association’s 50th Jubilee Easter rally event in Wanganui.

The raffle was open to both members and non-members of the NZMCA with more than 8,000 tickets sold nationally.

The win tops off an emotional week for the couple, after the death of Max’s mother the week before.

“We had just got back to Whangarei from Auckland on Friday when we got the phone call from Wayne Francis (NZMCA president). Sue answered the phone and burst into tears –when I heard it was Wayne I thought we must have won one of the smaller prizes,” says Max.

“I just couldn’t believe it when Wayne said we’d won the grand prize of a brand new Kea motorhome. Aside from the odd door prize or meat pack, we’ve never won anything.

“We were straight down to the local travel agent to book a flight to Wanganui for Sunday morning. There were over 1200 motorhomes gathered in Wanganui for the rally so we were treated like real celebrities when we arrived,” says Max.

“By Sunday afternoon we were driving our new motorhome back to Whangarei wondering if it was all a dream. I turn 65 this month so this is a birthday present unlike anything else.”

Supreme New Zealand Tourism Award winner for two years, Kea Campers has both a rental and manufacturing arm and especially built the deluxe Ford Transit four berth motorhome for the NZMCA, in celebration of Association’s first 50 years of operation.

Executive Director for Kea Campers and Kea Manufacturing, Grant Brady, says Kea has had a long relationship with the association that represents New Zealand’s motorhoming enthusiasts.

“The NZ Motor Caravan Association has never before undertaken a raffle like this so we wanted to build a vehicle that anyone would be proud to own and help in their fundraising efforts,”says Mr Brady.

Max and Sue are keen motorhomers and had sold their small motorhome one year ago.

“It was a very small and rather cramped van – this is luxury. At the moment we’re definitely keeping it.

“The motorhome has four berths but is built on a six berth chasis so it is extra spacious and luxurious. Kea have thought of absolutely everything in the detail of this van – right down to the best quality sheets, pillows and even pegs. We’d just need to buy food and we’d be ready to head away,” says Max.

“I was a bit worried I wouldn’t be able to manoeuvre it to turn it around at home, but with that now sorted, it’s safely parked waiting for the first adventure.”

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