Yesterday, about 50 Minis were parked in the Octagon at noon as part of the length-of-the-country car marathon comprised solely of Minis.
The event, which largely follows the route the Blondini Gang take in the classic New Zealand film Goodbye Pork Pie, features 50 teams attempting to raise more than $500,000 for the KidsCan charity.
So far, the teams have raised about $440,000.
Whanganui participants Dan Goldsworthy and his uncle, David McBeth, from Dannevirke, had the "miniest" Mini of all and had driven it all the way with "relatively few" issues.
While being chopped up and repaired, Mr Goldsworthy’s roofless Mini had been cut down to be even smaller than originally designed.
"In Auckland, it bucketed down, we got saturated ... visibility was short, but as we came down the country, the weather just got nicer and nicer."
This year was his third charity run.
The event began in Paihia on April 3 and teams arrived in Invercargill yesterday, marking the end of the marathon.
Longtime participant Chris Westlake, of Northland, has not missed a road-trip for the nine years the event has run.
A truck driver by day, Mr Westlake swapped his 18-wheeler for a 1965 Mini.
His Mini weighs about 700kg. However, he had been towing a trailer weighing 1.5 tonnes filled with tools, parts and "anything else needed".
There had not been any issues, "but touch wood", he said.
"We're going to drive back to Northland ... so fingers crossed ..."
The Pork Pie Charity Run was established in 2009 by a trio of friends with a passion for Minis.
Their motto, "have fun and raise some funds for charity", still guides the event to this day.
