Unique Mini PHEV delivers Christmas cheer to people in need

Mini New Zealand is supporting Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai for the second consecutive Christmas to spread big love and cheer among those most in need this festive season. 

The Mission, which has been helping Aucklanders since 1920, provides food and gifts to many thousands of people who otherwise may not have been able to celebrate Christmas.  

On December 14 a uniquely decorated Mini Countryman PHEV delivered gifts donated by Mini and its employees to the Mission.

“We truly appreciate MINI’s kind help to provide gifts for children who would otherwise go without this Christmas,” Mission chief executive Helen Robinson says. 

“Many people in our community are struggling to make ends meet, from the disruption and impact of the last couple of years and the current cost of living increases, so there are many who still need support,” she says.

“We wanted to support Auckland City Mission and the work they do again this year,” BMW Group communications head Leanne Blanckenberg says. 

“We heard the biggest gap in donated presents is suitable gifts for teenagers and whole families to enjoy, so we offered to help towards making Christmas a little brighter for 100 children, teenagers and families,” she says.

Mini also worked closely with Whitecliffe Colleges to host a student competition to design a Christmas-inspired decal for the Countryman PHEV to deliver the gifts to the charity.

The students submitted varied designs celebrating the culture of New Zealand and the festive season and George Ballad’s design which features jandals, ferns, strawberries and the Mini logo was selected as the winning entry.

“Mini is a cosmopolitan brand that is all about big love – two small words with big power to inspire a world of positive action,” Blanckenburg says. 

“We wanted to continue the tradition we started last year and reach out and share Mini big love by connecting people together and bringing excitement to those in need this Christmas,” she says.