Auckland Zombie Walk 2006

The first annual Auckland Zombie Walk brought a little of the crypt to Queen St this halloween.

Our day began with a briefing by event organisers Dan and Liz. Their vision for the event being an inclusive, all-ages chance to dress up and mingle with other zombie enthusiasts. (The 31st of October also happens to be Dan’s and Peter Jackson’s birthday.)

We then headed to St Kevin’s arcade and had our zombie makeup done by vixens-on-wheels, the Pirate City Rollers (thanks Hannah). The event held was a fundraiser for NZ’s first roller-derby (team, squad, crew…?). We saw some pretty cute kids, and equally cute derby-girls, being made up while we waited.

Unfortunately we ran out of time to attend a horror script-writing session held by Script to Screen—but we hope to catch up with one of the speakers, Ant Timpson, later next week.

Made it to Starbucks at the bottom of Queen St with plenty of time to spare. Set-up the camera for some time-lapse action and, true-to-form, framed a portion of the square that the zombies were keen to avoid. Juz managed a few early zombie portraits before we entered one of the lower rings of hell: namely the one reserved for over-ambitious documentary makers. Penance involved attempting to film fast-moving zombies. On halloween. Carrying lead-based batteries for a lighting rig. Running. Up a hill.

The promised threat of a pirate ambush was realised not far from the top of Queen St, but the two groups parted amicably (Dan had previously suggested that the pirates were likely to be “a bit too salty” anyway.)

By my guess-timate a good 250+ zombies, numerous motorists, pedestrians and a slightly bemused indian family keen to know if “this was a local custom?”, all enjoyed the evening.

2-NOV-2006. Posted by Andy.