From a sports mascot in Northland to a chocolatier in Southland, and everywhere in between, fundraisers are coming up with dependable, delightful and daffy ideas to support Daffodil Day this month.
Cancer Society New Zealand is encouraging New Zealanders to ‘get your yellow on’ throughout August, to raise awareness and raise funds to support the Cancer Society’s work supporting New Zealanders impacted by cancer.
Daffodil Day 2025 Campaign Lead Mandy Evans says coming into August, almost 1200 individuals, community groups, schools and workplaces had already registered to fundraise, which was heartwarming to see.
“We are always humbled by the support that we get from our local communities, and we love to see the photos people share with us from across the country – dressed up in their yellow and wearing their daffodils to show they stand with us as we take on cancer.”
This year is the 35th year for the iconic fundraising appeal, which has been supported by major sponsor ANZ since the beginning.
While this year’s campaign centres on the sobering statistic that 1 in 3 New Zealanders will get cancer in the lifetime, highlighting the need for the Cancer Society’s wraparound support services, advocacy and research, there is always a beautiful display of love, hope and a little fun that is sprinkled in August through fundraisers, says Mandy.
“Northland Rugby’s mascot, Tane the Taniwha, has had his costumer make a daffodil headdress for him to wear at Northland teams’ August matches. We can’t wait to see him run out onto the field.”
Further down the country Daffodil Day activities include the creation of an art installation on display at Tauranga Airport of a 2m-wide flax pākē (protective cloak). Entitled “He Pākē o te Aroha” A cloak of love, the piece symbolises the support offered by the Cancer Society as a strong strand weaving into the support network of someone facing a cancer journey.
In the Hawke’s Bay it won’t just be yellow making a splash but all the colours of the rainbow as the first Daffodil Colour Run is staged on Sunday 24 August. Local sporting legends including Silver Ferns great Irene van Dyk and Black Cap Blair Tickner are among those backing the event.
In Wellington clever bean counters can look out for giant jars of blue and yellow jelly beans with a 1:3 ratio at Cancer Society centres and guess each jar’s tally to be in to win, and another sweet idea is the pairing up of Invercargill chocolatier Jane Stanton and a Dunedin-based artist Janet de Wagt, both cancer survivors, to create a Daffodil Day range of treats.
For the second year running ANZ has again teamed up with NZME to host another ANZ Donation Station on Daffodil Day. Tune in around the country to the special live broadcast on ZM and ZM online featuring star-studded live music performances, special guest appearances and epic fundraising action!
- Daffodil Day Donations can be made at www.daffodilday.org.nz, at any ANZ branch in August, or during the street appeal on Friday 29 August.
For further information or to arrange media interviews please contact:
Maria De Cort
Senior Communications Advisor, Cancer Society of New Zealand
maria@cancer.org.nz
021 991 952