A life boat from the Rena auctioned on TradeMe raised $20,800 for Child Cancer Foundation projects in Tauranga.

Port of Tauranga worker Moss Carlin, who organised the fundraising auction, says he is delighted with the money raised and described it as a 'great project to be involved with”.

Palm Beach Plaza director Greg Clarke paid $20,800 in a Rena lifeboat's charity auction, boosting the coffers for Child Cancer Foundation's Delwynne Hahunga.

'We had no idea what the value would be and we are pretty happy with the return. It's certainly great to see it staying locally after all that's happened here.”

The boat, bought by Palm Beach Plaza, will be used to raise funds to support the environment says plaza director Greg Clarke.

He was keen to use the boat as a tribute to all the volunteer work put in by locals to save the beaches and protect the environment, and was keen to hear resident's ideas on how the life boat could be used for fundraising.

'With the Papamoa Beach being one of the worst affected areas it will be fitting to display it at Palm Beach Plaza for a while. And of course it's been cleaned up thanks to all the volunteers who poured thousands of hours into it.”

Beyond a temporary display at the shopping centre, he has lots of ideas for how the 7.5m x 2.9m wide boat can be used.

He suggests it could be used for overnight excursions, or 'wild trips” out the Kaituna mouth in stormy weather, with the fee going to a fund to support environment groups and CCF.

'There are all sorts of things it could be used for. I just want to make sure it stays in the community so I want to hear people's ideas on how it can be used.

'Let's do something that's going to have longevity, something that is going to remind us of the importance of protecting the environment and supporting the amazing work of the volunteers who help.”

Child Cancer Foundation Tauranga fundraising manager Delwynne Hahunga says the $20,800 from the sale will allow it to provide extra services and behind the scenes support for families.

'It's going to make a big difference. Grants like this are really important to the organisation because we rely completely on donations.”

Auction organiser Moss decided to run it as a Child Cancer Foundation fundraiser after one of his children was diagnosed with a brain tumour three years ago.

He says when he came across the life boat he pitched the idea of an auction to raise funds for the foundation and says Rena owner's Diana Shipping Company agreed.

Moss says the Child Cancer Foundation is the perfect recipient of the funds as it provides essential support to cancer sufferers and their families.

He speaks from personal experience.

The foundation appointed a family support coordinator, who provided direction on what to expect, where to go and how to handle situations.

'When they attach themselves to you and your family for that complete sentence, and it never stops. They go through the whole journey with you.”

The lifeboat weighs just over three tonnes and is powered by a 43hp Volva Penta engine, with drive through a Kort Nozzle – a marine ducted fan arrangement where the propellor and ruder are one.

It was one of the life boats built by Schat Harding in Norway in 2003, onboard the 236m container ship Rena when it grounded on the Astrolabe Reef on October 5, 2011 consequently spilling hundreds of tonnes of oil into Bay of Plenty waters.

People with suggestions on how the lifeboat could be used should email them to Palm Beach Plaza management via the website www.palmbeachplaza.co.nz