The annual conference will still take place on March 13-16 but will now be held at the SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre. Some 750 Count members are expected to attend the conference which includes a comprehensive legislative, technical and investment agenda.

“Our annual conference performs important functions for our membership including a regulatory and investment update, a key opportunity for professional development through CPD points and as an invaluable networking opportunity,” said Andrew Gale, Count CEO.

“Owing to the damage to infrastructure and services in Christchurch following the earthquake, we have acted on advice and moved our conference to Auckland,” Mr Gale said.

However, Count will show its support for the New Zealand economy by keeping the conference in the country, Mr Gale said.

“The Count Charitable Foundation will demonstrate Count’s support for the people of Christchurch at this difficult time by making a donation through the Red Cross Australia Earthquake Appeal, which will be announced at the conference,” Mr Gale said.

High profile plenary speakers at the conference will include Jeremy Cooper, Chairman of Challenger Retirement Income and former head of the Super System (Cooper) Review; John Brogden, Financial Services Council CEO and Andrea Slattery, CEO of the Self-Managed Super Fund Professionals’ Association (SPAA).

A comprehensive workshop program includes sessions on self-managed super fund technical strategies and business opportunities; life insurance, investment, estate planning, mortgages and aged care.

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On Friday night, RaboDirect, principal sponsor of the Rebels rugby team, donated $15,000 to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.  The donation was presented at the conclusion of the match by RaboDirect General Manager, Greg McAweeney, and was received by one of the RaboDirect Rebels standout players, Julian Huxley.

Before the game, RaboDirect pledged to donate $3,000 per try scored by either team during Friday night’s clash against the ACT Brumbies at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.  However, despite only three tries being scored in a nail biting competition upset that saw the Rebels clinching a 25-24 win in the final minute over the Brumbies, RaboDirect increased the pledge of $3,000 per try to a total donation of $15,000.

A minute’s silence was held at the start of the game once the players were on the pitch, to remember those who had lost their lives in the disaster.

Greg McAweeney, General Manager of RaboDirect, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to help the victims of the Christchurch earthquake in any way we can.  We hope this donation will help the many people suffering as a result of this horrific disaster.  We’d like to thank the players from both teams for their outstanding efforts on Friday night.  We asked for their support and they most certainly all rose to that challenge.  We’d also like to thank the fans who came out to the game to cheer on the players.”

The impressive game, which ended with the Rebels’ first win of the season, was watched by a crowd of almost 15,000 people.  However, according to Greg McAweeney, although the victory was very exciting the aim of Friday’s game was not just about winning.

“Friday’s game was very much about showing our support for those people in Christchurch who are suffering.  For that reason, the numbers on the scoreboard had a completely different meaning,” McAweeney said.

The donation by RaboDirect is additional to a donation by Rabobank, RaboDirect’s parent company, of $100,000 towards the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

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