Arista of Rotorua are leaders of Social Giving in the Rotorua Community
The term social giving maybe new term to most people, but Arista of Rotorua have taken the social giving philosophy and
are becoming leaders in the accommodation industry in giving back to community.
During their journey with cancer treatment they had countless trips to Rotorua Hospital, with a very sick child. “Once
we were not even back from Starship for a day, and we had to rush up. Often it meant going without proper gear,” says
Mike Gallagher, co-owner of Aristia. That’s when they come up with great idea for other parents in a similar situation.
“Wouldn’t it be great to provide a ‘Care package’ for when parents arrive on the ward? We teamed up with Wade Meads at
Diverse Distributors and we now supply a ‘Care package’ for each family that uses the Oncology room, on the paediatric
ward,” says Mike
These care packages are supplied these as required, it doesn’t have to be cancer only. They also have plans to put in an
XBOX and upgrade the TV, in that room, “because once a family is in, they can’t leave that room! They can’t be exposed
to general kids,” says Mike
The Gallagher family spent 8 months living at RMHA. “Ironically many people assume that Mcdonalds pays for RMHA, they
actually don’t, they are a major sponsor, but it’s a huge cost, our family alone cost $18,000,” says Mike. The overall
cost of running RMHA is millions per year.
Arista supports RMHA with regular monthly contributions and are the local ‘spokes people’ for RMHA, and speak at many
Rotorua fundraisers about their story.
Arista of Rotorua has an excellent relationship with Workbridge. Workbridge is a professional employment service for
people with all types of disability, including people who have lived with the long-term effects of injury and illness
Arista of Rotorua additionally assist Workbridge in providing work experience for people who are having a bad start to a
working career. Some of these clients are young and have come from dysfunctional backgrounds. “Our aim for us is to help
them understand the required work ethic and provide some encouragement. They are made to feel very welcome and certainly
enjoy a good laugh with the team we have here,” says Mike.
During their Christmas staff function at Canopy Tours 2013 they had seen the opportunity to sponsor a rodent trap. These
are traps that are set in the Mamakau forest and managed by Canopy Tours. “We have recently sponsored a trap where this
will be monitored on line counting the amount of rodents it has caught,” says Mike. The trap has already caught 3 rats!
This is all in aim of protecting the bird life and nature environment in the beautiful Mamaku forest.
ENDS