The 12th Annual Surtees Boats Fishing Competition was due to be held on April 8-9 – but that was all before the storm hit and a stopbank on the Rangitaiki River burst.

The resulting flooding caused the competition to be cancelled, due to the Whakatane bar being deemed ‘too dangerous'.

But the team at Surtees Boats decided they could use the cancellation as a springboard to fundraise for a good cause.

Marketing & sales coordinator James Kayam says they wanted to make a contribution towards helping flooding victims.

'A couple of people who work here have family who were affected,” he says. 'We thought it was a great chance to turn a negative into a positive.

'Many competitors who had already entered donated their fees ($25 per person), with Surtees matching that for every person who donated.”

A fish finder from Garmin, which was to be a prize in the competition, was also auctioned, with proceeds donated to the fund.

Lone Star Marine, Surtees Boats anchor suppliers, have also donated $1000.

A total of $7101 has been raised, and was presented to Whakatane Mayor Tony Bonne on Friday.

The money will go into the mayoral fund set aside specifically to aid victims of Edgecumbe's flood.