Tribute hits the heights

Within seconds, Dunedin’s Octagon became a sea of vivid red.

About 100 people donned red dresses to take part in a community flash mob re-creating the Kate Bush classic song Wuthering Heights, early on Saturday morning.

The event was the first of 32 "Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever" celebrations being held in towns and cities worldwide.

Event facilitator and Dunedin city councillor Mandy Mayhem said the event was held as close to the British singer's birthday as possible.

"This is our fifth year and it seems to grow in popularity every year, which is amazing.

"We always try to be first.

"I think we're leading the globe in this year's Wuthering."

This year, people of all cultures, genders and levels of ability danced in support of Weka: Wellness Empathy and Kindness Aotearoa, an organisation that runs support sessions on a wide array of mental health conditions for adults and children.

"The message is, ‘Heathcliff, there’s a Cathy out there and she wants you to let her in to talk about your feelings, to talk about if you’re not OK’."

She said it was a really important message for men in particular, because there was such a high rate of suicide among them in New Zealand.

mark.john@odt.co.nz