David MacGregor

It's The Big SleepOut on Thursday - sounds like a jolly-jape, doesn't it?

The truth is I hate doing it. I don't like being cold and I don't like asking for money. Self reliance has always been my 'thing' - not in an ideological way, it's neither 'right' nor 'left' - it's more an Emersonian tenet.

But, as I am oft want to say: "I have principles - but if you don't like those one, I have others.".

On Thursday I will forsake my warm bed and sleep on the hard cobbles of the AUT quad - I know I will be cold. Possibly wet - and that delightful combination - cold and wet. But I am not doing it out of the goodness of my heart. I am doing it plumb the goodness of your heart.

In return for my meagre sacrifice, I'm asking you to donate some money to the LifeWise Trust to help them help people who don't want to be homeless - but are. (Not the lifestylers though, because they're rubbish, right? - glad we got that one out of the way.)

Whatever you can afford will be lovely. You are helping make Auckland a more liveable and loveable city.
Thank you.