A fundraising dinner in Te Anau last night has raised $20,000 to help replace equipment lost in last month's Auckland Islands helicopter crash.

The event held by the Rotary Club of Fiordland at the Te Anau club "exceeded expectations" according to club president Marie Galland.

A silent auction was held during the event, as well as a guest speaker in Brian Dagg who spoke about his amazing mountain climbing attempts which has seen him climb six of the 'big seven' peaks across the world.

Ms Galland said all those who attended the evening were thoroughly entertained and happy to help out with the cause.

"We had a wonderful lot of donations from local people and we had a wide variety. I think two or three of our big prizes went for well over $1000 and we had a lot of smaller donations so there was something that everybody could have a go at bidding and re-bidding. They’re lots of fun silent auctions."

Three Te Anau men, John Lambeth, Lester Stevens and Andrew Hefford, all survived the crash on April 23 near the Auckland Islands where they had been sent for a medical evacuation.