Some of Auckland’s most stunning homes will open their doors for a great cause in early November, with top Auckland chefs serving up signature dishes within their kitchens.
The sixth annual Festive Home Tour 2015 on Friday 6 November will see 10 inspiring homes from Auckland’s Eastern suburbs roll out the welcome mat, giving ticket holders access to the best in Auckland architecture and interiors, food and festive styling.
Each home will be professionally styled with delicious finger food created onsite by leading Auckland chefs including Stu Marsden of Woodpecker Hill, Nic Watt of Masu, Javier Carmona of Mexico, Sarah Conway from Ponsonby Road Bistro, Adrian Chilton from Burger Burger, and Dariush Lolaiy and Rebecca Smidt from Cazador.
And with $250,000 raised to date, this is a charity home tour with a difference with all proceeds from the Your Home & Garden and Resene supported event going to World Child Cancer’s Pacific chapter to help improve child cancer treatment and survival rates among children in the Pacific Islands.
Involved for three years now, Ponsonby Road Bistro’s Sarah Conway says the cause is close to her heart. “It’s a heartbreaking scenario and one that struck a chord with us from the start. It’s lovely being able to help in our small way and actually a very happy day. The lovely homes and the food are obviously great, but raising funds and awareness is the crux of what it’s all about.”
Organised by leading home and interiors magazine Your Home & Garden, Managing Editor Shelley Ferguson says the Festive Home Tour gives ticket holders rare and exclusive access to some of Auckland’s most inspiring homes. “Each year we like to showcase a different area and different styles and I’m really excited about the broad range of architecture in this year’s tour of Auckland’s Eastern suburbs.
“We have homes that are colourful and creative, modern and minimal, timeless and elegant – with the Christmas theme bought to life by our team of stylists. Together with our line-up of celebrity chefs delivering delicious food, the 2015 Festive Home Tour is shaping up to be our best and biggest yet.”
With something for everyone, this year’s homes include an award-winning cliff-top residence above Karaka Bay, a tranquil Parnell oasis in solid concrete, a modern three level bungalow renovation with a stunning views of Okahu Bay, a timeless family home in St Heliers and more.
New this year, an evening session is on offer for those who can’t make it during the day. With seven of the ten houses and minus the chefs, this later option will involve some special entertainment as well as tasting plates and BBQ food.
Raised in Samoa and Fiji, New Zealand celebrity chef, global restaurateur and World Child Cancer ambassador Robert Oliver says every cent raised from the Festive Home Tours goes to improving child cancer treatment and survival rates among children in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. “Until recently, children in the Pacific who developed cancer had poor access to the treatment which cures 80 percent of children with cancer in developed countries like New Zealand.
“The funds raised by Festive Home Tours is changing that, significantly improving outcomes for child cancer patients in these Pacific Islands by funding vital medical training in techniques for treatment of childhood cancers and a raft of other educational measures.
“The survival rates for children with cancer in Tonga, Samoa and Fiji used to be just 20 percent but over the last three years it has increased significantly – in Samoa it is now at 50 percent. This is a huge step forward and can be directly attributed to the funds raised over the past five years.”
The 2015 Festive Home Tour takes place in Auckland on Friday, November 6, day session 10am – 4pm, evening session 4 – 8pm. Tickets cost $65 per person for day and $55 for evening and are available from Ticketek.co.nz.
