Charity donation is the icing on the cake

About 11kg of white icing, 1200 chocolate pebbles and 30 hours of work went into a gingerbread village that is being auctioned off to raise money for Homes of Hope.

Trinity Wharf executive chef Simon Green created the 80cm by 60cm scene that depicts a road crash involving Santa's sleigh.

Mr Green said he made a gingerbread house for the hotel lobby every year but it was the first time it was being auctioned for charity.

Trinity Wharf owner Shelley Payne, who is involved with Homes of Hope, suggested the auction.

Homes of Hope supports Tauranga children and young people at risk.

Mr Green made a standard gingerbread house two years ago and a larger one last year so was under pressure to come up with something bigger and better.

"This year we thought, 'what are we going to do to jazz it up a bit' so I came up with this scene," he said.

"Because of the amount of icing on the gingerbread it will be very much edible on Christmas Day as long as you've got good strong teeth because the icing is pretty thick."

And the secret to a good gingerbread house?

"Imagination and colour. You've got to have the white icing and you've got to have the colour there. It's got to be visual."

Bidding on the Trade Me auction yesterday stood at $250.

With $75 dollars of lollies on the creation and the time and effort put in Mr Green said he could not recreate it for less than $700.

Trinity Wharf general manager Gary Dickman said the hotel wanted to help out one of the less well-recognised charities.

"We've worked with them before. They are very localised here in Tauranga. We all know about Waipuna Hospice sometimes you just want to help one of the smaller ones. Everybody needs assistance and especially at this time of year."

Homes of Hope chief executive Hillary Price said she was thrilled the hotel had decided to support the charity. "It's just a great concept at this time of year and it's very child-focused and in keeping with everything we're about," she said.

"It's a labour of love so I don't know how you put a price on that. The money will go towards making sure our children have a great Christmas."

The auction closes at 4.19pm on Friday and the winner can take the village home the same day.

The masterpiece is on display in the Trinity Wharf lobby where donations can also be made.

Click here if you  want to place a bid.

How it was done

80cm by 60cm
1200 chocolate pebbles
11kg of white icing
$75 worth of lollies
30 hours work across four days