Forza Italia! Latin style on show as car lovers congregate in Dunedin

Ensuring the $6million worth of Italian cars parked at the Brighton Domain on Saturday are safe, while dressed up as Italian police officers or Carabinieri, are Mike Apthorp (left), of Hawke's Bay, and Tom Bruynel, of Christchurch, with an Alfa Romeo 156 police car replica.

The two men were among the many owners of Italian cars who travelled with their vehicles to Dunedin from Christchurch for the Latins by the Lakes event which is held every two years.

Organiser Mike Hall, who made the journey in his 1985 Alfa Romeo Alfetta, started the event in 1995 in hopes of connecting Italian cars and their owners.

"The event has been steadily growing each year.

"People love it because it's not competitive but is more focused on socialising.

"It's about enjoying the company and the cars."

He said a conservative estimate of the combined cars' worth would be about $6million.