Tauranga Police CIB Charitable Trust

From humble beginnings in 1995, a charity luncheon was attended by 40 detectives and raised $200. In 2014 the event was supported by 1500 guests and raised an amazing $420,000 for local charities and community groups.

Over the event’s 20-year history, $2.3million was raised to benefit a wide range of WBOP organisations, becoming the biggest and most successful event of its type in New Zealand. Each year featured outstanding MC’s and guest sporting speakers from New Zealand and Australia. The event’s success relied on cash donations and quality auction items including sporting memorabilia, travel, goods and services. All the proceeds went to benefit community organisations from within the Western Bay of Plenty region.

In 2014, the trustees decided to retain $100,000 of the proceeds from the final event to establish an Acorn endowment fund, in order to continue the “giving” to the community that had grown over the previous 20 years.

Key organisers of the Tauranga Police CIB annual fundraising event were Detective Sergeant Pete Blackwell, Judge Paul Geoghegan, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner, Sergeant Nigel McGlone, Graeme Smith and Leona Smith.