New Zealand- Organisers of the Boobs on Bikes parade are vowing to ride again despite a last-minute bylaw change by Auckland City Council.
At a meeting last Thursday, councillors voted to put future applications before the council for decision, instead of an officer.
But porn king Steve Crow says the parade, which features topless porn stars riding motorbikes, will go ahead regardless of the council’s vote.
"We’re not asking permission because we believe it’s our right to do it," he says.
"We’re just giving them an opportunity to assist with crowd control."
He says planning meetings for the August 20 parade were held with council officers and police two weeks ago, and he was only told of the bylaw change on Tuesday.
At Thursday’s meeting, councillor Richard Northey failed in his bid for a bylaw amendment to outlaw the parade.
Mr Northey said there was huge opposition to the parade among Aucklanders.
"The majority of our citizens don’t want this tacky, greedy parade," he said.
He proposed a change to the public places bylaw that would see events associated with or promoting pornography refused a permit.
Under previous rules, officers could refuse permission if there is "objectively justifiable and reasonable grounds for declining".
A panel reviewing the bylaw received 149 submissions in support of beefing up rules to prevent future parades. The panel proposed decisions be referred to the council, instead of an officer.
Deputy mayor David Hay said councillors should be able to decide what’s offensive. "I’m quite happy to stand up and be counted and I trust the rest of the council is happy to stand up and be counted as to whether they support it or not."
The parade to promote the Erotica Expo has been held eight times since 2003, despite former mayor Dick Hubbard calling it "morally repugnant".
Police have said they are unable to stop the parade on indecency grounds.
