Amy and Mckenzie of MAC Cosmetics "People are being very generous," says World AIDS Day collector MacKenzie as she stands on what is likely the busiest street corner in the country this morning, encouraging Auckland commuters to donate cash to help with HIV prevention and support work. Not an early riser, MacKenzie nonetheless doesn't begrudge her 5.30am start to the day to come into the central city and stand outside the Britomart train station at the corner of Queen and Customs streets. "I wanted to help and you have to be up early to get here in time to catch the workers," she says while extending her red and white bucket as a gold coin is dropped in by a smartly-dressed woman. "Lots of people are asking what we are collecting for and being very generous... and a busy street is a good street!" she laughs. Also standing on the sunny street corner is Amy and both young women are here on the initiative of global long-time HIV cause supporter MAC cosmetics. "This is a very important part of our support for people with HIV," Amy says. "It's a part of our social responsibility that we all take very seriously." She says she and MAC believe "very strongly in helping support communities in need" and she is glad to be able to "directly help people affected by HIV in New Zealand." MacKenzie and Amy are just two of dozens of collectors on the streets of Auckland and hundreds in selected cities around the country this morning. Further up Queen Street, as yet another wave of commuters surges across a the busy Wellesley Street intersection, office manager Barbara Wilson drops a $5 note into a bucket. "I look out for the collectors at this time every year," she says. "A friend's son has HIV and likes to keep it quiet. I'm not supposed to know, so this is a wee way to quietly help him, and other people like him. I'd hate for one of my kids to have it," she grimaces. Are you collecting? Send pics to news@gaynz.com, post them on our Facebook page or find us @gaynz on Twitter! See some hard working collectors below: Little Miss Cinnamon hard at work in Christchurch The NZAF's Nick Laing collecting with a friend at Auckland's St Lukes Mall
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 29th November 2013 - 8:34am