Stars shine as Aucklanders show their support for music therapy

After an evening of stellar performances and excited bidding, the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust is proud to announce that an impressive $130,000 has been raised during its seventh annual gala dinner and auction.

The generous outpouring of support at last night’s event in Auckland ensures the trust’s centre can continue to provide life-changing music therapy for children with disabilities.

The Raukatauri Gala Dinner and Auction was hosted by Carol Hirschfeld and John Campbell at the Langham Hotel. It featured a range of unique musical collaborations including Don McGlashan and Anika Moa, Nesian Mystik and Jason Kerrison, and a thrilling performance by Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre patron Hayley Westenra.

The evening’s entertainment culminated in a unique ‘supergroup’ ensemble of all the artists led by Tim Finn, Lawrence Arabia, and the night’s musical director, Karl Steven.

Big-ticket auction items of the night included a BBQ evening with Jason Kerrison, which sold for $9,000, a painting of Tim Finn created live on the night by Otis Frizzell ($7,200) and a longboard signed by Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Liam Finn ($8,500). A guitar signed by Kenny Rogers, was a steal at just $4,500.

However the most expensive item on the night was a flight package for two to London to wine and dine with chef Peter Gordon at his Providores restaurant, which went under the hammer for $11,250.

All money raised goes directly to the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, the only privately-run clinic of its kind in New Zealand.

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About the Raukatauri music therapy centre

The Centre provides music therapy for school aged children and is New Zealand’s first music therapy centre. The idea grew from a Kiwi family’s experience of music therapy in the UK and the subsequent 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, control and 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