Z boosts charities
Every time you purchased fuel from Matamata’s Z petrol station over the past month, you would have been given a token to put in the box that represented your favourite local charity.
The weight of tokens in each box determined how much each charity was given out of the $ 5000 that Z donated to the community.
The Matamata Fire Brigade proved to be the most popular and was given $1750, closely followed by St John with $1700.
Pohlen Hospital was donated $850 and the Community Health Shuttle was given $800.
Z spokesman Selwyn Cook said they had talked to customers and found these four charities were very highly regarded in the community so this was a way to give something back.
‘‘Z is a New Zealand company and all the money we make is put into the New Zealand economy so as part of that we want to support the community,’’ he said.
Graham Motion from
St John was thrilled with the money and said it would be well spent on a new chair for their study computer and volunteer amenities. Anton Turner from Pohlen Hospital said their portion would be going towards their new wing project and Brian Hunter from the Matamata Fire Brigade said they were considering putting the extra money towards a special light fitting for their helmets. Matamata people who bought a ‘‘locals ticket’’ to Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours do not have to wait much longer to see the picturesque set.
A new tour date has been finalised for Sunday, February 19, after the December tours were cancelled due to heavy rain.
More than 1400 Matamata people booked tickets which cost just $10 each and include a free lifetime pass if they take a paying friend or family member on the tour with them.
Kirsten Madill from Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours said there were still a small handful of tickets left which could be purchased from Matamata i-site.
If anyone in the community misses out on a tour pass, they can still buy a lifetime pass but will be unable to go on Sunday once those spaces have been filled.
‘‘This is definitely much bigger than any locals’ day we have had before. We have over double the number going so we are really stoked that the community has become excited about it and are going out,’’ Ms Madill said. It would be something that people would really enjoy, she said.
Those booked on a tour need to meet at Hobbiton on Buckland Rd 15 minutes prior to their departure time and allow two hours for the tour.
For more details please phone 888 1505.