Collectors Nick and Debbie shelter under a Britomart Station canopy in downtown Auckland this morning. This morning's World AIDS Day collectors around the country may be facing an uphill battle in the face of generally cold, wet weather and, in downtown Auckland at least, almost total lack of awareness amongst city workers streaming along Queen Street. Of 25 commuters coming out of the busy Britomart train station this morning who were asked when World AIDS Day is only two had even a rough idea that it falls on this Monday, December 1st. None knew that collectors would be on the street this morning. As collectors appeared on street corners GayNZ.com asked a further ten people who had yet to encounter a collector what money raised for World AIDS Day was used for, only one had any idea, answering vaguely: "For AIDS?" Money raised throughout the country today will be used, once organisational costs are recovered, for providing support for people with HIV. In particular a share goes to the Wellness Fund which provides last resort assistance and helps financially struggling HIV-positive people with small amounts towards goods and services not covered by other agencies such as WINZ.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 28th November 2014 - 7:36am