Undie 500 headed north

The Undie 500 car rally will go ahead this year - in a northerly direction - after a Marlborough couple agreed to host the event.

Organisers of the annual Canterbury University engineering society-run event were last year told they were no longer welcome in Dunedin after violent riots in previous years.

The rally, which previously involved students driving cheap cars from Christchurch to Dunedin and then partying, is headed north this year, after the engineering students' association approached people in Marlborough to find a concert site for the event.

Chris and Trish Redwood of Seddon, about 24km southeast of Blenheim, confirmed to The Marlborough Express today that they would host the event at their Seaview Road property.

The rally would take place on September 17-18.

Mrs Redwood said she did not expect a repeat of the chaotic scenes in Dunedin, where years past saw couches set alight and bottles thrown at police.

"I don't see how having a concert in a country venue would produce similar circumstances. The environment in Dunedin is unique -- it's a student ghetto. It's very cold, and they need to light fires."

Blenheim acting senior sergeant Tony Yardley said police did not think the event was a good idea and would speak with the Redwoods this week.

Last September, Dunedin police in riot gear faced off against up to 600 rioters in the city's Castle Street area, arresting more than 60 people.

- NZPA