Shona McCulloch, the charity queen of New Zealand, graces the Tauranga Auto Extravaganza on March 2 next year.

“I entered a competition a couple of years ago and became charity queen of New Zealand for all the charities I support, which is 27 in total,” she said.

“I support anyone I can get to.”

Due to her nationwide philanthropy, McCulloch won the Mrs Universe NZ 2022 Charity Queen award.

McCulloch will bring her distinctive 1960 Ford Prefect, Peggy Sue, to the show, where one young boy or girl will win the chance to ride.

“She was a plain Jane in green and grey in the interior and white on the outside. She’s now hot pink and white inside and outside.”

McCulloch has helped 27 charities so far this year. Photo / Tom Eley

The Tauranga Auto Extravaganza returns for its fifth year with Classic Flyers on Jean Batten Drive, Mount Maunganui, hosting the event, said event organiser Neville McKay.

“We started on The Strand, and we’re now using Classic Flyers,” he said.

All the proceeds from the event will go towards Hato Hone St Johns ambulance, said event McKay.

Keith Sawyer and Neville McKay organisers of the Tauranga Auto Extravaganza. Photo / Tom Eley

A range of hot rods, classic cars, army vehicles, logging trucks and even some boats will be at the show, said event organiser Keith Sawyer.

“That’s why we call it an auto extravaganza,” Sawyer said.

It’s open to the public from 10am to 2pm, with display vehicles turning up from 8am.

“All display vehicles need to be in by 10am so we can be organised and ready for the public,” he said.

A Ford Model A and similar cars will be in attendance at the show. Photo / Tom Eley

The money raised will be used locally and stay in the Tauranga community, St John area committee chairman and district youth manager Vaughn Cory said.

“St John has a variety of other units involved, such as youth, friends, the emergency department, care and callers, the op shop, and other things. So this money gets spread around the whole organisation.”

The charity gets a lot of support from the government to help fund emergency services and ambulances, but only partially, Cory said.

“While the government funds a great deal of our service, there’s still a shortfall. We’re a charity. We need the people to get stuck in and help us out, and we really appreciate it.”

He said Hate Hone St John youth members would shake buckets and provide ambulance and sunblock during the day at the extravaganza.

“We’ll have staff on site as well, just to look out for people if anything goes wrong.”

- SunLive