Mullet will soon be history

It may be the only shocking pink mullet hairstyle in history, but fortunately for the fashion police it won't last long.

On Friday Portland firefighter Wayne Smith plans to dye his mullet pink and then shave it all off to raise money for Northland cancer charity Project Promise.

After yet another ribbing from his colleagues - and his wife - about his "scruffy mullet" hairdo, Mr Smith told them that if they raised $1000 for Project Promise he'd lose his locks.

It was said in jest, but with the Portland brigade raising well over $1000 - including $50 from his mum - he accepts the "timeless" mullet he's been growing for 20 years will soon be history.

Brigade member Derek McFarlane said the challenge came about after his wife, Linda Jarrett, and Wayne's wife, Joanne, criticised the hairstyle that gained notoriety as a fashion faux pas in the 1980s.

Mr McFarlane said the locks would be coming off in "typical Portland style" with a hoolie at the fire station.

"There'll be lots of fun and Wayne's keen for us to dye it shocking pink first - it might be the first shocking pink mullet in history," Mr McFarlane said.

Entry to the big shave is by gold coin donation with all money raised going to Project Promise.

The Northland Community Foundation is running Project Promise to raise $3 million over three years to build a cancer-treatment unit at Whangarei Hospital.

The charity is fast approaching the $1 million mark.

Recently, the Project Promise auction of stock and general items sponsored by Murdoch Ross of Ross Livestock held at the Maungakaramea stockyard on March 17 raised almost $10,000 for the cause.

A fashion show held at the Whangarei Art Museum on February 1 raised $1575 and the Waitangi Golf Club's Project Promise golf tournament on March 3 raised $3000.

A further anonymous donation of $23,000 has recently been received.

To donate to Project Promise, pop into any BNZ branch and donate to the account number 02 0492 0111777 00.