Rare wagyu steak auctioned off to raise money for KidsCan charity

The auction is open until September 4.
The auction is open until September 4. Photo credit: First Light

Steak lovers wanting to contribute to a worthy cause now have the chance to kill two birds with one stone with a new auction online.

In order to raise money for KidsCan - a charity helping Kiwi kids out of poverty - a rare marbled ribeye steak is being auctioned off by First Light.

The steak comes from a massive 946kg wagyu steer from Evan and Clare Chapman's Rockburn Farm, in Geraldine, south Canterbury.

The steer is the "biggest animal the business has seen in recent memory", according to First Light.

Gerard Hickey, managing director of First Light, says although the massive size of the animal is rare the farm is known for raising large wagyu animals.

"This isn't a one-off," says Hickey.

"In the last month, Rockburn has sent us some of the highest yielding animals we can remember. This is the wagyu beef dreams are made of – beautiful meat, incredible intra-muscular marbling, and a generous pay-day for the Chapmans, who have made it happen for us."

Clare and Evan Chapman.
Clare and Evan Chapman. Photo credit: Supplied

In order to help out Kiwi kids, a marble score 7+ ribeye from Rockburn has been held back from being shipped overseas and sliced into steaks that will be auctioned off.

"We call these sorts of steaks 'unicorns' because to get anything above a marble score 7 is rare, and very much sought after," says Hickey.

"We’re keen to see this remarkable meat go to a wagyu enthusiast here in New Zealand – and to support a charity doing important work in our schools and early childhood education sector at the same time."

The auction is open until September 4 and can be found here.