Here's you chance to own a piece of New Zealand rock history: The Verlaines' Graeme Downes has donated the Diplomat guitar used to record the original version of "Death and the Maiden", and about which the song "Dippy's Last Trip", from the album "Bird-Dog", was written. Legend!

Thanks Graeme, and thanks also to the Dunedin The Rock Shop, who have refurbished this guitar on the house.

This auction is part of the Otago SPCA Celebrity auction, raising money for the new Otago SPCA Puppy Shelter. Please click on "view sellers other listings" to see the other great stuff some of our generous famous folk here in NZ have given us to help raise funds.

THE CURRENT SHELTER The puppies at the Otago SPCA have a tough time, especially over winter. Dunedin gets bitterly cold, and their current shelter does not provide them with adequate protection from the elements. Bare chicken wire covers the upper portion of the walls so the wind whistles through. In winter the floor remains wet night and day, and the puppies huddle together on top of a cage for warmth.

We dont want puppies to go through another winter in these conditions.

THE NEW SHELTER We are raising $74,000 to replace the puppies shelter at the Otago SPCA. The planned new shelter will allow puppies to be housed at night in individual runs with a bed and small exercise area for toileting. It will have insulated walls, and a heated concrete floor to provide warmth and a dry area on those miserable days. We plan to have the new shelter finished before this winter sets in.