Mangawhai Lions Club Collects Old Coins for Kids' Education
The Mangawhai Lions Club is running an initiative called Heads Up for Kids to collect old New Zealand and foreign coins and banknotes. The donated funds are then redeemed for NZ dollars to support educational opportunities for young people.
Since launching in 2010, the program has collected over 28.8 tonnes of coins, equivalent to four elephants or 460 cattle, and thousands of banknotes. This has raised almost $612,000. The Reserve Bank estimates that $80 million in old New Zealand coins and $20 million in old banknotes remain unaccounted for.
The donated materials can be dropped off at the Mangawhai Hospice Shop in the Mangawhai Village. In the past, funds raised have helped students attend programs such as the Spirit of Adventure and the Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre.