Brave undie runners bare a lot to support charity

It may have been cold and wet, but it was all for a good cause as about 30 people took to Lake Rotorua for the inaugural Undies Dash and Splash.

The event was held as part of Rotorua's Fire and Ice Winter Festival and saw contestants brave the cold of Lake Rotorua to take part in a 1km fun run and obstacle course.

Funds raised from the $10 entry fee would go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand and the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition.

Participant Shinjy Kim said it was a fun event and she was looking forward to getting more friends involved next year.

"It was all for a good cause and we had a lot of fun. I'll definitely do it again but will ask a few more friends as well next time," she said.

Runners battled the clock as well as water hazards, ladders, cargo nets and volunteers throwing water balloons at the runners as they ran by.

Prizes were handed out for top runners including spa treatments, movie tickets, ice-skating passes and helicopter flights.

SMP Events managing director Shaloh Mitchell previously told The Daily Post he hoped the event would be part of an annual festival.

"This is the very first undie run that Rotorua has had and we hope that the community will get behind it," he said.

The only rules were no mankinis and no thongs.