Undie-takings fail to sway Kaikoura people
BY LJANA SLIGO
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Kaikoura residents have their knickers in a twist over the Undie 500 coming to town.
Mayor Kevin Heays says he has been bombarded with angry phone calls from people who disagree with the Kaikoura District Council's decision to hear out the organisers of the notorious student car rally.
The rally of themed cars and vans bought for under $500 used to drive from Christchurch to Dunedin, but has faced public condemnation after anti-social and violent behaviour in previous years.
This year, organisers are trying to control student behaviour by changing the route and destination of the rally.
The University of Canterbury Engineering Society (Ensoc), which organises the event, has applied for Kaikoura District Council consent to finish the rally in the seaside town.
Mr Heays has said if the "troops can do the right thing, there is no reason they shouldn't come here".
But many Kaikoura people and a business group are unhappy at the idea.
EnVision chairman Stephen Rattray said the event would be a "bad example for our kids", with "no economic or social benefit".
"We don't want it in our back yard."
Kaikoura resident Janice Dreaver said: "I can't believe they are even considering it. I can't see any value of any sort coming to our town from this event."
Another resident, Dennis Buurman, said the potential for such an event to go horribly wrong was high. "We have nothing to gain, but plenty to lose by hosting an event such as this, which is renowned for its excessive drinking, rioting, violence and assaults on emergency services when they are called in to restore the peace."
Last month, Ensoc president Michael Cook gained preliminary support of Kaikoura District councillors and was told to go ahead and seek the required consent.
Mr Cook said Ensoc had comprehensive plans to avoid the violence and anti-social behaviour seen in Dunedin.
"It's not something we're proud of. This year we want to run it properly so we can have a safe and positive event."
This included security guards, controls on the selling of liquor and police co-operation.
Councillor Marion McChesney said the public would have the opportunity to have a say through the consent process.
"Give them a chance to put things right. If they stuff it up, they will get only one shot, but it could be awesome for them and the town," she said.
- The Marlborough Express
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They should avoid towns and go to a lake. Lake Kaniere on the West Coast is pretty good..
If the organistation team and security & police can get together and discuss this it is a positive for our town we have seafeast in which we still have a few problems but we go ahead they started somewhere and have things sorted these young adults are no different that attend our local functions .We do not have the same population as Duniden re/students and we should give them a go if they stuff up so be it we were all young once give it a go
Just small note if event was presented by organisers with security and police consent this is much the same as seafeast and many organisations that hold events in this town also we do not have the same population as dunedin with students and can be controlled by by security give them a chance kaikoura could set a precedence on how to enjoy and have good time we were all young once
This will be interesting. Will these comments show Kaikoura as a closed minded naysayer town of nimby retirees, or a more open minded town with a youthfull vigour. I don't like to pre-determine things, but I'm suspecting it might be the former... Hahaha.