Motorcade of Minis leaves Northland on KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run

A classic Mini on its way to Invercargill after leaving Paihia on Friday on the KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run.

A motorcade of Minis has set off from the Far North on an epic 2400km trip in the tyre tracks of iconic Kiwi movie Goodbye Pork Pie.

Fifty teams of Mini lovers aim to raise $500,000 to help children living in hardship on the target="_self" rel="" title="https://www.drivencarguide.co.nz/news/pork-pie-charity-run-is-back-on-for-2025-look-out-invercargill/?utm_source=nzh&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=nzh-home">KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run.

In the original 1981 movie, the Blondini Gang left Kaitāia on a chaotic cross-country escapade following two men in a stolen Mini as they tried to evade police. This version left Paihia just before 7am on Friday as foul weather rocked the region.

The movie starred Kelly Johnson - now a Whangārei lawyer - as the film’s foul-mouthed star, Gerry Austin, aka Blondini.

This yellow beauty is on the KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run to Invercargill to raise money for the charity.

The run, which is the ninth, travels through Auckland, National Park, Wellington, Kaikōura, Hokitika, Cromwell and Dunedin to the finish line at Invercargill on April 9. Along the way, the Minis will spin some laps around Hampton Downs, visit locations from the movie and stop at KidsCan’s partner schools, where the money they raise helps students with food and clothing.

The first run in 2009 saw 36 teams travel from Kaitāia to Invercargill over five days. Since then, the event has grown, with participation reaching a 60-car limit and the journey extended to six days.

Some of the KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run Minis have a break on their trip south from Northland.

Because of accommodation and logistical constraints, the run is now capped at 50 teams, with entries selling out within minutes. To date, the event has raised more than $2 million for charity. In 2023, 50 teams raised over $417,000 for KidsCan by taking on the ultimate Kiwi road trip challenge and this year they are hoping to raise even more.

KidsCan feeds more than 60,000 Kiwi children every day – including in Northland - but thousands more are still waiting for help. Right now, KidsCan has its biggest waitlist yet, with more than 260 schools and early childhood centres waiting for support. That means there are 10,000 more kids in need of food, shoes and jackets, but the charity can’t reach them all just yet.

One of the cars in this year’s KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run on the road from the Bay of Islands to Invercargill on Friday.

That’s where the Pork Pie Charity Run comes in. Every donation made means more children in need have access to nourishing food, warm clothing and essential health items.

To find out more and to donate, go to https://porkpiecharityrun.org.nz/.

Some of the KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run entrants pass through Spring Flat, Whangārei, on their epic journey south.

A Mini Clubman is one of the 50 teams entered in this year’s KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run.

The weather was wild when the KidsCan Pork Pie Charity Run participants left Paihia on Friday morning.