Tomorrow marks the end of an era for Tauranga's biggest charitable fundraiser, thought to be one of the most successful in the country.

This year's Tauranga Police CIB Luncheon will be the last, sparking a celebratory end to the fundraiser's illustrious 20-year history.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner (left) and Detective Sergeant Pete Blackwell hold up a guitar during one of the many auctions over the years.

The auction is expected to raise $300,000 for eight local charities, which will surpass a grand total of $2 million dollars raised by the event overall.

As usual, the money raised from the event goes straight back into the community to make a difference in the lives of others.

Out of the 50 applicants to this year's auctions, the eight successful charities are: St John Building Project Trust, Acorn Foundation, Amped4Life, Cystic Fibrosis BOP, Kathleen Kilgour Centre, Te Tuinga Support Services, Decision Reach Out (Toro Mai) Trust and Merivale School.

A sell-out, 1,500 strong crowd - the largest so far - will fill the ASB Baypark Arena to capacity for an afternoon of digging deep. Tickets for the event sold out in 36 hours.

Guest speaker Greg Ritchie, a former Australian cricketer who played in 30 tests and 44 ODIs between 1982 and 1987, will be supported by New Zealand entertainer and MC Jacqui Clarke.

Electronic bidding is taking place for the first time, which is expected to draw even greater interest in the list of more than 188 auction items - 24 under the live auction of 3 auctioneers and 40 more in total than ever before.

Founder and organiser Detective Sergeant Pete Blackwell says he's been amazed by the constant support of the local community for the event.

'With donations of cash, auction items and bidding, I've been blown away by the support,” he says. 'Without it, we don't have an event.

'All of these contributions have allowed us to make the big difference in the community that we set out to achieve.”

Items for auction this year include a framed 2014 British Open Golf flag signed by Rory McIlroy, various exotic vacation packages, a 2014 Commonwealth Games polo shirt signed by Valerie Adams, an MCC Lords 200 Years Commemorative Cricket shirt, a Farmer Auto Group 6 month lease of a motor vehicle, and a barrel of Mills Reef wine.

Pete says after two decades of managing what has become a massive community fundraising event, the time is right to move on.

'We have achieved magnificent results over the years for the benefit of thousands of local children and young people in our community,” he adds.

'This is the year when we will exceed $2 million so it seems right to bow out at a time when the momentum is still there for everyone involved.

'It's going to be an exciting day, where we hope to achieve the best single result we've ever managed, topping $300,000 in one afternoon.

'We'll be going out on a high note and while I'm sad it will all be over, I'm also humbled by the difference we've managed to make over the years.”

For more information visit www.taurangapolicecharity.co.nz