Nelson Tasman Hospice is proud to be associated with Olive Estate Dancing for a Cause and the Nelson Dancing for a Cause Charitable Trust.

The event is made possible by the Trust’s dedicated Board of Trustees, who generously volunteer their time and work tirelessly alongside many individuals, businesses and organisations throughout the Nelson Tasman region. Their shared vision is to create a spectacular show every two years while raising much-needed funds for Nelson Tasman Hospice.

Since its first event in May 2018, Dancing for a Cause has captured the hearts of the Nelson community, combining entertainment, friendly competition and extraordinary generosity.

The inaugural event sold out the Trafalgar Centre and raised an incredible $111,000 for Hospice. In 2021, eight local contestants took to the dance floor, with the support of the Nelson community helping to raise an astonishing $248,000.

The 2023 event continued this winning format, pairing ten local personalities with trained ballroom dancers to perform in front of a panel of professional judges and a sold-out audience. Ryan Edwards and his partner Hazel Black were named the NBS Nelson Dancing for a Cause winners for their Viennese Waltz. Cheryl Candish took out the award for Most Funds Raised, while Kat Campbell and Joel Scott won People’s Choice for their Paso Doble. The community once again showed its incredible generosity, raising a staggering $440,000 for Nelson Tasman Hospice.

In 2025, Dancing for a Cause reached new heights. Across two spectacular nights at the Trafalgar Centre, ten local personalities and their dance partners entertained thousands of supporters and helped raise a record-breaking $670,000 for Hospice. Rhys Black and Rebecca Higham took home the Overall Judges’ Award for their winning jive, while Ed Shuttleworth and Brooke Silke-Atkins won the Yondi Foundation People’s Choice Award. Jayde Howe was recognised for her outstanding fundraising efforts, raising an incredible $250,660.

Across its four events, Dancing for a Cause has raised more than $1.47 million for Nelson Tasman Hospice – an extraordinary achievement that will help us continue providing free specialist palliative care to patients and their whānau throughout our region.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Nelson Dancing for a Cause Charitable Trust and its Board of Trustees, along with the contestants, dance partners, sponsors, volunteers and the wider community. Your commitment, generosity and enthusiasm make this remarkable event possible and make a real difference to local patients and their whānau.

Who will become the next champion in 2027?