A dinner and auction held by New Zealand King Salmon has raised over $6,000 for the Mistletoe Charitable Foundation.

NZKS is a premier sponsor of the foundation, which provides financial assistance for any New Zealand school-aged youth to attend school camp at Mistletoe Bay in the Marlborough Sounds.

The dinner, at Marlborough restaurant Arbour, was held after the annual meeting of shareholders of New Zealand King Salmon at the Scenic Circle Hotel in Blenheim. Attendees were also invited to drinks at Saint Clair winery where head chef Mark Diu prepared a version of his Ora Award entry for the guests.

Mark McAllister’s Ora King Award winning Salmon Solstice dish

Community sponsorship and events coordinator Chelsea Yates says the event was a huge success and said it was fantastic that guest chef Mark McAllister, 2018 winner of Best Dish New Zealand in the Ora King awards, was there to personally serve up his winning dish ‘Salmon Solstice’ to guests.

Chelsea also gave high accolades to Liz Buttimore and Bradley Hornby from Arbour, who – along with their team – put a huge effort into making the event a delicious and successful one.

Arbour’s Bradley Hornby and Liz Buttimore

Money for the Mistletoe Charitable Foundation was raised through ticket sales and from the Ora King TYEE auction, led by Bayleys Marlborough real estate agent Kurt Lindsay.

“The auction was for a whole Ora King TYEE fillet, which feeds around 40, along with an Ora King chef to prepare it at the winner’s residence,” says Chelsea. “After a period of spirited bidding, the successful winner was Moya Terris. She and husband Alan are delighted with their purchase and plan to make it a feature of their upcoming housewarming party.”

Grant Rosewarne with auction winner Moya Terris, Jemma McCowan, Mistletoe Bay’s Simon Heath and Chelsea Yates

Chelsea says the Mistletoe Foundation was a worthy cause to fundraise for.

“No child should miss out on going on school camp with their class for financial reasons, and the foundation ensures that everyone can participate in the Mistletoe Bay experience.”

“NZKS considers it a privilege to be able to support the foundation, and New Zealand school children, in this way.”

“I also want to give a special mention of Kurt Lindsay – he was a fantastic auctioneer and absolutely hilarious. It was great to have him on board for this event.”

Saint Clair winery