Glitz and glamour shone at Nelson Tasman Hospice’s fundraising showpiece which climaxed with the better Black, a political candidate’s clipped coiffure, and a sparkling record.
NBS Dancing for a Cause 2025 made all the right moves on Friday and Saturday with 10 local personalities giving it their all in front of thousands.
Rhys “Rhys Lightning” Black reigned supreme for his flawless jive with partner Rebecca Higham which they performed to Greased Lightnin’ from the musical Grease.
His technique and showmanship earned three 10s on both nights from judges Vanessa and Scott Cole and Alison Leonard.
As the glam, fake tan, and slicked-back hair subsides, the Wakefield-based national programme manager for Discover Forestry New Zealand says his “Southland Stumps” are “well and truly” uprooted - referring to his Southland roots.
Before hitting the dance floor, he’d declared ‘may the best Black win’ - referring to his professional dancing wife Hazel Black, who took out the 2023 contest with Ryan Edwards, and was coupled with Nelson’s Blair Cameron in 2025.
“It was the story of the underdog going up against the seasoned champ, there was some fierce competition, and I knew I had to put in the hard work as Hazel and all of the dancers were going to be fantastic,” he says.
“It was definitely not expected but really nice to be able to get that result, and fantastic to make sure that the trophy stays home out here in Wakefield.
“Hazel was nothing but a class act, and it was also nice for us to go out there and share that experience together, one that we will both cherish, but it’ll probably be me that cherishes it a bit more.”
Rhys, who raised $27,000 for the cause, took his hat off to the Dancing for a Cause team for his systematic journey.
“I haven’t had a personal experience with Nelson Tasman Hospice being an immigrant to the Tasman area, but I’ve had family elsewhere throughout the country that have required Hospice services,” he says.
“It’s the place we pray we never need, but hope it’s there when we need it most. It was really humbling to have that strong sense of community come in and support me through my own journey and ultimately support Nelson Tasman Hospice.”
Rhys’ Upper Moutere-based dance partner Rebecca Higham was “really happy” with the outcome in her Dancing for a Cause debut.
“Rhys was an absolute rockstar, worked his butt off, and it was just such a special moment,” she says.
Rebecca had competed in Dancing with the Stars New Zealand for four seasons and her celebrity partners included former Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt and the late broadcaster Sir Paul Holmes.
“So Rhys was a refreshing change, a little bit younger and a bit more agile,” she laughs.
Blair Cameron, who danced the paso doble, sealed his promise at the Tides Hotel after party, braving the clippers to farewell arguably his most recognisable feature - the ‘man bun’.
The live-streamed shave proceeded after Blair’s $100,000 fundraising target ticked over on Saturday night.
“Zara Fowler, one of the dancers, is also a hairdresser. She brought her clippers along on the second night and when she got them out, she said ‘I didn’t bring any of the attachments, so it’s all or nothing’.
“The full reality didn’t set in for me until I went to brush the hair out of my eyes and there wasn’t any there.”
He says one of the judges - Alison Leonard - has taken up knitting.
“She knitted me two gorgeous rainbow beanies, so they’ve been keeping my head warm.”
Sport Tasman chief executive Ed Shuttleworth, who danced the tango, took home the text-voted Yondi Foundation People’s Choice Award on both nights and BNZ financial adviser Jayde Howe, who danced the rumba, achieved the highest individual fundraising tally with $250,660.
Motueka's Lauretta Haskell, who was sponsored by R&R Kayaks and partnered with professional dancer Derryn French, raised close to $30,000 for Nelson Tasman Hospice’s services. Her big sister Nicci, who died of breast cancer 11 years ago, was her “big why” for taking part in the biennial fundraiser.
“It was a no-brainer, Lauretta says. “I wanted to give back to such an incredible resource.”
Anna Hay, Campbell Rollo, Ritchie Norriss, Steph Collett, and Wendy Blincoe completed the contestant list.
Emma Silke-French credited the contestant’s “stellar campaigns” for the record-breaking $587,000 raised for Nelson Tasman Hospice, with final numbers yet to be confirmed.
“Everybody should be very proud of how they performed, the judges were pretty impressed, they definitely felt like it was the best one we’d done so far,” she says.
