9.20AM: The Governor General accepts a donation World AIDS Day collectors were joined by the Governor General this morning as they rattled buckets to collect money to be used for support services for people living with HIV and AIDS. In Auckland the early morning collectors, mostly young women and NZ AIDS Foundation staff, zeroed in on Queen Street and the Britomart Transport Centre. Although some commuters were happy to give, many didn't give the t-shirt clad and balloon bedecked collectors a second glance. "It's amazing how many people suddenly need to talk on their cellphones when they see us in their path," laughed Ricky Te Akau, a NZAF staffer. But his bucket was attracting a good collection of coins "and there are quite a few banknotes in there too," he said. Central city worker Paula receives a red ribbon from Ricky Te Akau The central Auckland collectors appeared on the street at around twenty to eight and were joined by the Governor General and AIDS Foundation patron Sir Gerry Mateparae an hour later. Although not all people knew who the man in the World AIDS Day t-shirt surrounded by Government house minders was they were most impressed when advised of his identity by NZAF Executive Director Shaun Robinson who was also on the street with his staff this morning hustling the commuters. The NZAF boss is mobbed by schoolgirls Collectors are also out throughout today in Wellington, Christchurch, Timaru and Invercargill. The collection is held in association with World AIDS Day which is marked annually on December 1st. Collectors from MAC cosmetics
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 25th November 2011 - 9:31am