Runga tickets to help health charity
Musician Bic Runga will donate a portion of the ticket sales from her upcoming Christchurch concert to the Maia Health Foundation.
Runga will give $5 from every ticket sold to the Canterbury health charity, which she helped launch in May last year.
Runga is playing a three-date tour of New Zealand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her platinum-selling album She will perform at Christchurch’s Isaac Theatre Royal on Friday with her band and four special guests: Asti Loren, Aaradhna, Estere and Shayne Carter.
The first-half of her set will be songs from and then the guests will join her to play a selection of other hits.
The Maia Health Foundation is a Canterbury charity that aims to improve health services in the region. Its projects include a rooftop helipad for Christchurch Hospital and improvements to the hospital’s facilities for children.
Runga performed at the foundation’s fundraiser dinner in August, and auctioned off one of her guitars. ‘‘I became involved with Maia because I wanted to help with a commendable and necessary effort in my hometown,’’ Runga, who is originally from Christchurch, said.
She said the invitation to become involved with the charity came from an old friend from high school. ‘‘Also, I remember when my Dad was in Christchurch hospital near the end of his life, they saved his life at one point in fact, I feel like I really owe them for giving me three more years with him,’’ Runga said.
‘‘The fantastic work that Maia is doing to upgrade Christchurch Hospital increases accessibility for emergency treatment to people, and provide options for families to stay with their children while receiving medical care.
‘‘I am proud to be from Christchurch, and am excited to be donating $5 from each ticket from my concert.’’
Tickets to Runga’s Christchurch show are available from Ticketek.