Let-off for Overlander triggers Laws streak

Michael Laws

One day after the good news the Overlander rail service is to be saved, Ohakune has been hit by resultant bad news -- Michael Laws is to dash through the town wearing only carrot-coloured undies.

Wanganui mayor Mr Laws had jokingly promised Ruapehu mayor Sue Morris that if her lobbying efforts saved the Overlander train service, he would streak naked down the main street of the central North Island town.

Toll yesterday announced it was saving the train service, although it would reduce to a three-day service from next week. It would run daily over the summer.

Mrs Morris told Radio Live today she was willing to let Mr Laws off.

But the Wanganui mayor proved a man of his word, his one stipulation being that, since the service had been half-saved, he would run only half-naked.

"I know which half I'll choose," he said.

Mr Laws proposed an "Overlander underpants dash through Ohakune, I'll put up $500, top female, top male, take part myself and we can make it a bit of a summer event".

Mrs Morris thought having the event advertise the carrot capital of New Zealand would make it even better.

"How about dressing up as a carrot, or in orange-coloured speedos?" she asked Mr Laws, who agreed it was a fine idea.

"I think I could do that, it would be obscene but it would be worth it," he said.

No date for the race was set.

- NZPA