Cocktails at the Ritz with Hayley

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Runga thrilled by response to music therapy fundraiser
Thursday November 2, 2006

Stella* singer Boh Runga is thrilled with the calibre of items up for auction at tonight's Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre Fundraiser, at Auckland's Town Hall.

"We've had some great people donate stuff, it's just been phenomenal. I'm always impressed by how generous people are," she said.

Runga, who is a patron of the centre, said she was particularly excited about the Fender Telecaster guitar, signed by the Rolling Stones, though she didn't think she could afford to bid on it.

The annual fundraiser, which supports music therapy for special needs children, will be hosted by actors Oliver Driver and Danielle Cormack and feature performances by top New Zealand musicians as well as the charity auction.

Among the many prizes up for grabs is the chance to have Dave Dobbyn perform live at your place, Jaquie Brown hand deliver her homemade Christmas pies, or cocktails at the Ritz with Hayley Westenra in London.

Other items include a surfboard signed by Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and Donovan Frankenreiter; a skateboard autographed by the Beastie Boys; and a selection of works by prominent local artists, inspired by New Zealand music.

Runga, who will perform with Fiona McDonald during tonight's show, said it was heart-warming to be a part of the event.

"Musicians normally do things for themselves. It's nice to be a part of something where there's more than just alcohol," she said.

Since the inaugural fundraiser in 2004, the event has become a highlight on the music industry's calendar, raising more than $190,000 last year alone.

Internationally, in Britain and Australia, music therapy centres have become the charity of choice for the local music industries.

The Raukatauri Music Therapy centre was established in 2003 by local singer/songwriter Hinewehi Mohi and her husband George, becoming the country's first centre of its kind.

The couple's 10-year-old daughter Hineraukatauri suffers severe cerebral palsy and is unable to walk or talk.

After visiting the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London in 1999, Mohi saw the remarkable effect of music therapy on her daughter.

"It was just amazing. Right from the beginning there was a real connection for our daughter."

When the family returned to New Zealand to discover there were no similar facilities available here, they set about creating the centre.

Since opening three years ago, the centre has hired an additional therapist and moved premises to accommodate the increasing demand for its services.

Currently, the centre works with 54 children, as well as several school groups, and plans to hire an additional full-time and part-time therapist next year.

"It's far surpassed anything my husband and I could ever have dreamed of," said Mohi.

The centre operates with no Government funding and is heavily reliant on the profits of the annual fundraising event.

To make an automatic $20 donation, to the centre, phone 0900 MUSIC THERAPY