Kiwi Companies Unite for Charity
Two Kiwi companies – House of Travel and EziBuy – have come together in an initiative that is hoped will raise thousands
of dollars for the 37 hospices throughout New Zealand.
House of Travel’s in-house design team developed the design and now with the assistance of EziBuy they have produced a
range of stylish tee-shirts and polos, available to the public, which will raise both money and awareness for the
long-running charity. The men and women’s tops are on offer now at www.ezibuy/hospice.co.nz, with a full ten dollars
from the purchase of every tee-shirt going directly to a hospice of the customer’s choice.
Stephen Parsons, a House of Travel owner operator, says the collaboration is the perfect partnership.
“House of Travel and EziBuy are both household brands with a commitment to helping our communities. When we decided to
form a national partnership with Hospice New Zealand and the hospices throughout the country late last year, we had this
idea that tee-shirts could be worn by our 1,000 staff throughout the country, hospice staff and volunteers. However, the
feedback from customers and our families was so huge that we decided we needed to enlist some professional help. EziBuy
was keen to get involved as soon as we approached them.”
EziBuy Acting CEO Matt Toynbee agrees.
“This is a great project for us to get involved with. EziBuy has volume access to quality clothing, which means we can
provide Hospice New Zealand with maximum benefit and ensure that all of the profit is going exactly where it is needed.”
House of Travel formed a partnership with Hospice New Zealand in October 2005 to support and raise awareness of the
wonderful service they provide. When staff heard that the average age of a hospice patient is a 33 year old male, Mr
Parsons says it really hit home that a hospice is not just somewhere old people go to die.
“Last year alone, more than 8,000 patients and their families used hospice services in New Zealand and what has
astounded our staff is that people don’t know what a hospice does. They have no concept of the full range of services
they provide to anyone with a terminal illness, regardless of their age, culture, gender, religious beliefs or economic
status. We are so lucky to have hospice care in our community but they certainly need funding, hence the idea of the
tee-shirts.”
The public will get another chance to help during the national hospice awareness month in May, by hosting a “Time to
Remember” function where donations are collected from guests. For more information on this event, visit
www.time-to-remember.org.nz or call 0800 TIME 2 PARTY (8463 2727).
ENDS