AVONSIDE SCHOOL BAKE SALE CUPCAKE PRICED AT $47, PTA INSISTS IT'S "FOR A GOOD CAUSE"
The cause is a shade sail. The cupcake is lemon.
A lemon cupcake at the Avonside Primary bake sale on Saturday was priced at $47, with the PTA treasurer insisting the figure was "deliberate" and "reflective of the fundraising climate".
The cupcake sat on a trestle table with roughly forty others going for $3. It was distinguishable only by a handwritten card reading "Artisan — Silver Tier". Parents queuing for coffee described the pricing as "a bit rich" and, in one case, "actually deranged".
PTA treasurer Fiona Bracewell-Yates, 44, defended the call. "We've done the maths. We need $1,800 for the shade sail. If three people buy a Silver Tier, we're basically there. It's efficient." Asked whether anyone had bought one, Bracewell-Yates said the sale was "still young".
Parent Nigel Ashworth, dropping off a tray of Cookie Time slices he'd been told not to bring, said the whole thing had "gone a bit Ponsonby". "It's a cupcake. From a woman I've seen buy Pams vanilla at the Stanmore Road New World. Come on."
By 11am the cupcake was still there, though it had been "touched" by a Year 3 boy and returned to the table without comment. The PTA is reviewing whether Silver Tier survives to the summer gala.
The shade sail is still just an idea on a Google Doc.
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Reader Letters
Trev_Hornby
That's a ridiculous price for a cupcake!
Feral_Frank
Trev, you reckon $47's bad? Wait till they want donations for the principal's 'overseas conference'.
couchgremlin
Bargain if it comes with a lifetime of shade.
wayne1987
Mate, this is a piss-take.
Garry_Kaiapoi
I remember bake sales where you could get a slice for 50 cents and no one complained. Back then, the focus was on the community, not flashy sails. I’m all for supporting schools, but $47? What are we teaching our kids about money and value?
sugarcraft_sandra
Baking is an ART. Go watch Bake Off!
MumOf3_Belmont
This is peak Christchurch. Everything's getting munted, even the bake sales!
NigelFromStanmore
@sugarcraft_sandra The article says they're using Pams vanilla though. Not exactly artisanal.
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