byGrace Buchan/15 December 2025/inEvents, Kia News

Celebrating Community at the 2025 Miles Kia Crusaders Breakfast

Early December always brings a buzz of excitement. Summer has officially arrived, Christmas is just around the corner, and at Miles Kia, it means hosting one of our favourite community events. Our annual Crusaders Breakfast is not only a celebration of our partnership with the Crusaders but also an opportunity to come together for a cause that means a great deal to us: supporting the Salvation Army and the work they do for families across Christchurch.

Miles Kia began our sponsorship with the Crusaders in 2024, and we have continued that support into 2025. As a Christchurch family-owned business, this partnership felt like a natural fit. The Crusaders represent dedication, pride, and connection throughout our region, and it has been a privilege to stand behind a team that means so much to Canterbury.

Following the success of last year’s breakfast, we wanted to make this year even bigger. That meant bringing in the professionals and giving our hardworking dealership coffee machine a morning off. The team from Coffee Skills arrived to fire up the coffee cart, while The Social Platter Co. delivered a generous spread to keep everyone well fed. With a 7.00 am start, caffeine and food were essential.

As guests arrived, the showroom steadily filled with friendly faces and the tray of the new Kia Taman ute quickly began to stack up with donations for the Salvation Army. Its class-leading tray size made it easy to collect a large number of gifts. The generosity set a heartwarming tone for the morning.

Once coffees were in hand and plates had been grazed, General Manager Jodie Tait welcomed everyone before handing over to Crusaders Commercial GM, Doug McSweeney. Doug hosted a panel-style conversation featuring Crusaders Assistant Coach Brad Mooar and Liam Carrol, Senior Site Manager for Te Kaha (One New Zealand Stadium).

The conversation flowed easily, covering everything from the Crusaders’ season to coaching insights to the exciting progress at Te Kaha. Guests enjoyed a mix of behind-the-scenes stories and forward-looking updates, all delivered with energy and good humour. It was the kind of dialogue that reminds us why we love supporting this team and being part of what is happening in Ōtautahi.

After the panel, Jade from the Salvation Army shared a few impactful words about what these gifts mean for local families and how appreciated they truly are. She followed up the next day with this message:

“On behalf of The Salvation Army we wanted to take a moment to thank you – and everyone who donated a gift – for your incredible generosity.
Just a short time ago, donations in our city centre were at an all-time low, and now we are surrounded by the most amazing gifts we could have hoped for.
Because of your support, we’re going to see a lot of happy parents over the next week. These gifts mean so much more than presents under a tree – they give parents the dignity of choosing what’s right for their children, wrapping gifts themselves, and being part of the experience.
And for the kids, it means that for one special day, they can feel just like everyone else – excited, valued, and celebrated.
Your kindness has truly transformed what could have been a difficult season into one filled with excitement and joy.
Merry Christmas to you all!”

Hearing directly from Jade was a powerful reminder of how much impact a seemingly small act of donating a gift can make.

Finally, the morning concluded on with the Crusaders’ Super Rugby Championship trophy on display with guests proudly taking photos with it. A fun and interactive way to finish the morning.

This year’s Crusaders Breakfast was about more than an early start and good coffee. It was a chance to come together, celebrate, and give back.

From all of us at Miles Kia, thank you for being part of this event. We are proud to call Christchurch home, proud to support the Crusaders, and proud to stand alongside partners and customers who make mornings like this one so meaningful.

Want to come to the next one?

Invitations to our Miles Kia events are provided first to Kia owners on our customer list who are subscribed to our emails. You can keep up with the latest Kia news, offers, and updates by signing up to our emails, although please note that event invite priority is, of course, given to our customers.