Lundy 500 plan slammed as 'offensive'

Victoria University's student magazine is planning an anniversary re-creation of convicted double killer Mark Lundy's much-publicised Petone to Palmerston North dash.

The event, labelled the Lundy 500 "in a similar vein to the defunct Undie 500", was designed to draw attention to inconsistencies in the New Zealand legal system, said Salient editor Jackson Wood.

However, Victoria University is calling the event offensive and inappropriate.

Teams of vehicles were being invited to travel, obeying the speed limit, from Petone to Palmerston North on August 29 - the ninth anniversary of the murders of Lundy's wife Christine and their seven-year-old daughter Amber.

Police claimed Lundy made the Petone-Palmerston North return journey, reaching speeds of up to 150km/h, and committed the murders in less than three hours, but many have questioned how he could have made the trip so quickly.

Police were unable to re-create the driving time.

Lundy is serving a 20-year non-parole jail term for the murders and is now preparing a second appeal against his conviction.

Victoria University chief operating officer for the vice-chancellor's office Andrew Simpson said the event was inappropriate, offensive and the university did not support it.

The university could not prevent students from participating, but all would be reminded of the Student Conduct Statute, which outlined the university's student behaviour expectations, he said.

Wood said people would question the taste of the event but told NZPA he hoped the families would not take offence because the focus was on aspects and quality of the justice system.

"In one sense it is a bit of a hijink, but the focus is - and has always been - on making a statement about the New Zealand justice system."

Salient held no official opinion on Lundy's guilt, he said.

The justice system was generally a dry topic and re-creating the drive would attract more attention, he said.

Wood said Salient did not want to make fun of Lundy or Palmerston North, and would not encourage participants to festoon their cars with decorations.

Participants would be required to sign a contract saying they would not break the law or the university's student code of conduct during the event.

It was not about causing a scene but about making a protest, he said.

Key evidence in some cases was misleading and steps could be taken to ensure focus was on the most correct evidence and to explore alternative theories in each case, he said.

Wood said participants would not drive as far as the Lundy house itself as it would be "totally wrong".

At this stage he only expected two or three cars to take part.

- NZPA