Zombies' takeover sure to be thriller

Most charity walks are at a steady pace but come Saturday night the city will be overrun by the walking dead.

The Zombie Walk, which raises money for the Brain Injury Association, is taking over the central business district for an evening of blood, guts and good fun.

It starts at the Village Green at 5.30pm and culminates with the Thriller dance back on the Village Green at 7pm.

This is the second year Movietime director Layla Robinson has organised the event and while last year's was a flash mob surrounded in controversy, this year's has been received with open arms.

"I'm really excited by it," Ms Robinson said.

"I'm getting there with my outfit but it's quite hard to decide what to wear as I have to remember I'm going to be running around as well as doing the Thriller dance."

Zombie walkers can register tonight at the Night Market or from 3pm on Saturday at the Village Green. It costs $5 to walk, with all proceeds going to the Brain Injury Association. Last year they raised $2700. Zombie walkers aged under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The walk will go from the Village Green up Fenton St, right on to Amohau St and back to the Village Green via Tutanekai St.

"We'll be walking zombie style," Ms Robinson said.

"It's hard but heaps of fun. You're supposed to stay in character but last year people were cracking up. Rather than groans there were lots of laughs."

She said they walked slow enough to allow participants to stop off and buy a burger - which gave non-walkers a bit of a fright - and for people to take photographs as they stumbled around.

An after-party will be held at T-Zar on Eruera St. It will feature Rotorua's Vicious Minnows as well as Sonic Altar from Auckland. Entry is $5 for registered walkers and $10 general admission.