RCNZ chief executive Roger Parton says as part of the organisation's annual conference a charity auction is held each year with the proceeds going to St John in the local area.
Mr Parton says sponsors provide gifts for the auction and RCNZ members then bid for these with all the money raised donated to St John in the region where the conference is held.
"So with our conference being held in New Plymouth this year, that means all the funds raised from our charity auction is going to St John in Taranaki," he adds.
"We had a good haul of products put up by sponsors including a tractor, GPS unit, weighing scales, spray, oil, fuel and numerous model tractors and machinery with our members digging deep to benefit St John."
Mr Parton says in total a new record of $28,400 was raised in the auction – topping last year's record haul of $24,000 at the conference held in Cromwell.
"This sum will be now donated to St John in Taranaki to help them continue on with all the fantastic work they do for the community in the local region."
Doug Ashby, St John Trust Board regional chair, is delighted with the donation from Rural Contractors NZ and thanked RCNZ members for their generosity to the local charity.
He says the $28,400 will be put to good use in Taranaki and will allow St John to expand its service base in the region.
