Fifty MINI car teams are pitting themselves up against each other in the biennial Pork Pie Charity Run, where participants drive the length of New Zealand over six days – with the ultimate winner being KidsCan, the NZ charity supporting Kiwi children living in hardship.
The April 2025 event marks the ninth Pork Pie Charity Run since 2009. The 2023 occasion broke the fundraising record of over $400,000 for KidsCan and the 2025 run is roaring off to a great start, with team spots in such high demand that registrations sold out in less than four minutes.
Teams for 2025 hail from all around New Zealand – Wellington to Whanganui, Christchurch to Timaru, Auckland, Matamata, and Ruakaka. The cars range from a classic 1965 S to the contemporary 2025 05 Cooper S (JCW). There’s a couple on their honeymoon, husbands driving up against their wives and old schoolmates reconnecting after many years, while taking a spin. Everyone’s here because of their passion for MINIs, the joy of experiencing a scenic road trip, making good friends, and doing it all for a good cause.
Kevin Hollamby and Peter Bjarnesen from Rotorua are driving in PPIE, a rebuilt 1983 Mini City, which took 18 months to complete ahead of the official start of the 2015 event. The doors and bonnet were completely removed, which needed sign-off and certification from NZ Transport Authority certification.
“We definitely went totally left field and the car is something to laugh and point at,” shares Kevin. “On one occasion back in 2017, we were coming along the Canterbury Plains and a cop pulled me over – over, waving their arms – and the only reason they stopped me was to talk about the car”
Honeymooners Shaw and Amy Elmsley from Nelson are participating in their original hot pink Riley Elf Mini 1965 they’re converting into a ute – complete with turbo engine.
“We’re really pushing it to get it certified before the start of the event in April, but we’ve got some fantastic local mechanics, panel beaters and auto electricians on the job,” says Shaw.
The 2025 Pork Pie Mini run sees the Green Flag waved off from Paihia with teams roughly following the route motored in the iconic Kiwi film “Goodbye Pork Pie”. It’s about 2,400kms with pit stops (both planned and often unplanned for the odd repair or breakdown), at rural, coastal, and mountain towns and villages, all while raising much-needed funds for KidsCan.
Invercargill is where the chequered flag is raised for everyone crossing the finish line and hopefully to celebrate the shared fundraising goal of $500,000 being reached.
That money will allow tens of thousands of children in schools and ECEs across the country in financial hardship access to nutritious lunches, a warm jacket, shoes, or gumboots and essential health items.
The level of participation and support this event garners is testament to the good old Kiwi can-do attitude and spirit. Not just from the participants who are giving it a go, but the businesses and individuals who support the teams and the cause with donations, but also to the folk in the towns and communities that welcome the teams as they pass through.
Find out more at KidsCan at www.porkpiecharityrun.org.nz
