Abandoned cars given new lease on life
Auckland International Airport has found a new home for one of the many abandoned cars that ended up in its carpark this year.
About 60 cars are abandoned at Auckland Airport each year, which the organisation disposes of or sells through auctions after being left unclaimed for a few months.
They get dumped there for various reasons, a lot of the time by people who are in financial trouble and fleeing the country.
The airport has partnered with a women’s refuge coordinator to help women in need.
The Aunties charity founder Jackie Clark was brought to tears when the airport handed over the keys to an abandoned Toyota in good condition, to a south Auckland woman.
The charity partnered with Wheels for Women project.
Wheels for Women is a project which, in association with The Aunties, provides cars to domestic violence survivors, with plans to deliver three cars during its pilot run of the scheme this year.
‘‘This is my dream and passion and it means everything to me when people step forward,’’ Clark said.
‘‘I get really overwhelmed by people who do really big things for us.’’
The Aunties was established by Clark five years ago and focuses on providing muchneeded items to women’s refuge centres in Auckland.
‘‘Women who’ve lived through domestic violence are not used to people caring about them.
‘‘It gives them hope which pushes them forward to be able to do anything.’’
Wheels for Women convenor Catriona Maclennan said cars gave victims safety and independence and the ability to leave a dangerous environment.
It has been working to donate the car to the charities for six months, which required things like insurance, a new registration, warrant of fitness, and change of ownership.
Auckland Airport people and safety general manager Anna Cassels-brown said the project was a great way for the airport to utilise cars which were in good order and give back to the community.
It’s now looking into other ways it could make use of its dumped cars, including through its student work experience programmes, Cassels-brown says.