Undie 500 rolls out of Dunedin, leaving carnage behind

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Sun, 13 Sep 2009 4:59p.m.

By Elizabeth Hayes

It was another night of chaos in Dunedin last night - bottles were once again thrown, riot police were called out and around 50 students were arrested.

The mob of 600 faced off against police for more than an hour.

There was a welcome sight for Dunedin authorities however - the Undie 500 hitting the road, heading north - but not without one last night of carnage on Castle St.

With Friday night's mayhem fresh in their minds, riot police were out in full force and were quick to pounce on the 600-strong crowd.

"If they want to get in the way and get a bit ruffled up, too bad," says Senior Sergeant Alistair Dickie of Dunedin police.
"It's lucky that's all that happened to them basically."

3 News was even caught up in the crush as police tried to move students along.

It took police more than an hour to disperse the crowds. Around 50 students were arrested, the majority from Otago.

3 News tried to get a comment from Otago University, with some serious questions about their students' behaviour, but they would not front. They said they might put out a statement tomorrow.

But with only a fraction of the weekend's arrests being Canterbury students, the university's head believes the event could be salvaged.

"We don't cancel New Year's Eve because some members of the community can't be responsible, we do however constrain Guy Fawkes, so we have a range of choices," says Rod Carr.

But mayor Peter Chin will have none of that. He has been pushing for the event to be banned for good, and now has the support of Police Minister Judith Collins.

"They are rich little white kids. The event should be cancelled," says Judith Collins.

With the last of the Undie 500 vehicles limping out of town this afternoon, Dunedin authorities now have a year to figure out just how to stop them coming back.

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Comments

14 Sep 2009 07:07p.m.

Roxanne Lloyd wrote:

The Undie 500 was EPIC!!!!!!

14 Sep 2009 03:39p.m.

jessica wrote:

judith collins needs to do the research before she opens her mouth. where did she get the authority to say we are all rich ans white? weetbix packet maybe? and as for peter chin, the more he gets his thong in a twist, the more we will do get behind the undie. he best thing to do would be to stop being so stubborn and put an event on to minimise rioting. oh and peter, it was 90% your students who caused the mess before we even got down there. so instead of jumping up and down and pointing the finger, sort your own out!

14 Sep 2009 11:21a.m.

Val wrote:

as all the comments show who are these spoilt little rich kids?? its not us uni students who are the problem its the media and cops. the moment drunk uni student see these two the carnage starts. I would also like to know where the footage on the news is of the cops spraying students ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY with pepper spray. They need these 'spoilt little rich kids' to run the country because clearly no one else knows how to.Judith Collins needs to realise that the only spoilt rich person here is her.

14 Sep 2009 10:41a.m.

Cam wrote:

"Rich KIds" Hmmm I dont remember being rich or having any freinds that were rich ?? Theres nothing rich about having massive student loans. Strange comment

14 Sep 2009 09:26a.m.

next wrote:

little white poor kids, standing up for the rich little white kids, minimum wage to write on there behalf ???? wait you guys bank at the same bank as well... the LIQUOR store. CLASSIC.

14 Sep 2009 02:08a.m.

anonymous wrote:

rich little white kids!!! seriously, have you been down here?!

14 Sep 2009 02:06a.m.

Jared Grellet wrote:

Do we have Judith Collins on film saying that comment? What an extremely naive stupid comment for any politician to make!

14 Sep 2009 12:30a.m.

jobin wrote:

"They are rich little white kids. The event should be cancelled." Ha, so if they were poor little black kids it would be ok? classic

13 Sep 2009 11:13p.m.

not a spoiled little rich kid wrote:

Spoiled little rich kids? What a stupid comment from someone in her position! Police minister my a## more like cheap school yard banter

13 Sep 2009 08:51p.m.

Kelly wrote:

"spoiled little rich kids" most of the partiers are poor or average students just trying to have fun. There are some that take it too far and deserve to be arrested, but those at flat parties just watching the chaos were unfairly treated. The event has huge potential as a money maker for dunedin business' if it was embraced and organised properly. As a student, I believe the council needs to come to the table with some constructive criticism and the police minister needs to do some research and get her facts right because shes sounding very naive and superior.