Wānaka and Districts Lions Club will donate $10,000 to a community affected by Cyclone Gabrielle following a successful quiz night fundraiser.

Club representative Steve Richmond said the quiz night on Sunday April 16 raised $7,600 and the club topped it up to reach $10,000.

“It’s going to make a difference,” he said.

Steve said the amount raised was a testament to the local community.

“Everyone comes out for something like this,” he said. “When there’s a need somewhere people here are really good.”

At least 100 people took part in the quiz night, which was held at Edgewater Resort.

Locals had been similarly supportive at previous quiz fundraisers the club has held, like one for the Australian bushfires which raised a similar amount, Steve said.

The club has not yet decided which community the funds would go to, but that they would be donated to a Lions Club in an area which had been badly affected by the cyclone for them to distribute as needed.

The local donation is the latest of many which have been made for Cyclone Gabrielle-affected communities, including a recent donation of $30,000 by the Wānaka A&P Show. 

See also: Show raises $30,000 for cyclone-affected communities

Steve thanked Edgewater’s George Blyth for organising much of the event and the hotel for providing the quiz venue free of charge.

He also thanked sponsors and supporters including Bella of Wānaka, ECO Wānaka, Highlands Motorsport Park, McKenzie and Willis, Mediterranean Market Wānaka, New World Three Parks, Selectrix, Wilson & Dorset, Mitre 10 MEGA, Ian Cole Fly Fishing Tuition, Radio Wānaka and The Messenger, and Lions members who donated firewood and a trip to Mou Waho.