Bronz Otago president John Russell said the Easter Egg run, where motorcyclists ride from the University of Otago Dental School to the Octagon bearing loads of chocolate Easter eggs, cost too much to continue.
The event cost about $1000 to put on, most of which went towards the cost of temporary traffic management for the central city as the motorcycles passed through.
Bronz had booked traffic management in George St for the final event this Sunday.
The number of bikers who took part in the event was also dropping, he said.
"We used to get 100-plus bikes. Now we’re down to about 60."
Rider interest in the event had been dropping off for some time.
"There’s that much stuff going on nowadays, something has to go."
In previous years the riders would stop at the Octagon.
This year they would proceed directly to the Salvation Army in Princes St.
Mr Russell said booking the Octagon was not a financial issue, but the paperwork required could take months, so they decided to skip the Octagon this last time.
Weighing it up, the club thought it was "easier and better" for riders to make a cash donation instead of holding the event in the future.
It was an end of an era for the community, he said.
"We had to make a decision, and we just thought this was probably the right one."
The roar of gift-bearing motorcycles travelling through Dunedin’s central business district will not disappear.
The December Toy Run, which had been growing in popularity, would still be held annually, Mr Russell said.
