ABOUT
THE STORY
A bit about John "Cocksy" Cocks, always on, or under the water.
John “Cocksy” Cocks was one of New Zealand’s most loved TV builders, known for his humour, big heart, and genuine Kiwi spirit.
Off-screen, Cocksy was the real deal: a hard-working craftsman, ocean lover, and all-round good bugger who gave back at every chance. Whether he was swinging a hammer, catching a wave, or cracking a joke, he embodied what it means to live life to the fullest.
He became a household name through shows like Treasure Island, DIY Dads, and My House My Castle, and often joked that he was “Cocksy the TV builder - who’d never built a TV.”
Even after his Stage 4 kidney cancer diagnosis in 2016, Cocksy kept doing what he did best, helping others, raising awareness, and living every day with purpose.
When he passed on Waitangi Day, 2019, at 52, he left behind not just family and friends, but a legacy of laughter, kindness, and service. The Cocksy Classic was created to honour that legacy, bringing people together with humour, heart, and generosity, just as he did throughout his life.
THE EVENT
What started as a fleeting idea over a beer or three while reminiscing at Cocksy’s final send-off, has turned into an annual event that celebrates spending time together, having fun and not taking life too seriously – all with the added bonus of giving back to a worthy charity that Cocksy spent many years supporting, and how he met his wife.
Cocksy was known as a bit of a prankster with a wicked sense of humour, so much of the event was inspired by his sideways thinking and love of the ocean.
THE CHARITY
Cocksy believed in helping kids in our own back yard first and The Kiwi Kids Charity does exactly that.
There’s a good number of charitable organisations across Aotearoa doing great work with specific groups of children and their families, and still, there are kids who are falling through the gaps. We help those kids that are often overlooked, isolated or forgotten.
Some don’t fit the “criteria”, others don’t have the right “label”, and some have families or caregivers who are too proud, or too private, to ask for help. Sadly, up and down New Zealand, kids, schools, families, and communities are missing out on things that would make a huge difference to their everyday lives.
Be it kids who are sick, have a disability, battle with learning difficulties, or are just plain struggling, as long as it contributes to helping Kiwi kids, we try to make it work. We don’t sit around waiting for them to come to us, we get up, go out, and talk to schools and communities to find those that could do with a helping hand.
Through our network of connections across the country, we know it’s sometimes not what you know, but who you know that can lead to the most creative solutions. We pride ourselves on connecting volunteers, supporters, and businesses through unique events to deliver everyday items, specialist needs, and the gift of fun, friendship, and time.
