A subsidiary of New Zealand Woolscouring Ltd, the Timaru plant processed the wool free of charge, with 200 bales going to Terra Lana to be turned into wool insulation batts.
A further 200 bales has been bought by carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst, with the sale proceeds donated to a new charity hospital being built in the name of Southland cancer advocate Blair Vining.
NZ Woolscouring chief executive Nigel Hales says it was an easy decision to be involved.
“This is such an important project for the Otago and Southland communities and means a great deal to the farmers who supply us and the people who work for us in Timaru,” Hales said.
“The Bales4Blair team has worked incredibly hard and farmers have very generously donated wool.”
Hales says the wool grease will go to a known international refiner to be further processed and highly refined to become cholesterol and then vitamin D.
“As we all know, vitamin D has become a powerful supplement in the fight against covid-19,” he said.
“It’s great to know that the donations made by farmers will have wide-reaching benefits beyond our shores.”
Vining died in 2019 having earlier been diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer.
He discovered major variations in cancer care across different regions of NZ and campaigned for better access to procedures such as colonoscopies, a move that was backed by a 140,000 signature petition.
The Southland Charity Hospital is expected to open by the end of the year.
