​​​​An event designed to deliver a night of fun, food and entertainment for the district's young people and families has also gotten behind a worthy local cause, raising $120.00 for the Kānuka Mid Canterbury Regeneration Trust​.

The Ashburton Youth Council's​ (AYC) Bite Nite Reimagined collected donations throughout the event on 2 October in a bid to support the district's biodiversity. Kānuka Mid Canterbury Regeneration Trust​ ​is dedicated to enhancing local biodiversity values through ​coordinating protection and regeneration efforts.

Pictured: Ashburton Youth Councillors presenting a cheque for $120.00 to the Kānuka Mid Canterbury Regeneration Trust​. (Left to right) Maddie Page (AYC), Emma Bush (Trust), Kavan Faoagali (AYC Chair), Jane Riach (Trust), Klara Harrison (AYC) and David Jones (NBS Ashburton Branch Manager).

Speaking at NBS Ashburton last week (15 October) to present the cheque, AYC Chair Kavan ​Faoagali said the Youth Council was pleased to lend their support to such a important group.

"On behalf of AYC, we are very happy to present this cheque for $120.00 to the Kānuka Trust. We worked really hard to encourage the donations this year and it's an honour to hand over this money."​

Emma Bush and Jane Riach received the funds on behalf of the Trust, saying they were very appreciative of the Youth Council's efforts.

"There's not a lot of reminent biodiversity left in Mid Canterbury so conservation and regeneration is really important for us," Emma said.

"We're all about linking up with people that are already doing a great job on their own properties and connecting the dots between those people and parts of the community that perhaps aren't as connected to these projects."

AYC have raised money for several organisations at each of their previous Bite Nite events, including Base Youth Cafe, ​Mid Canterbury Boxing Academy and Youth Work 24/7.