Wellington- The city's leaders called it "sleazy and cynical" but about 8000 Wellingtonians turned out to see the Boobs on Bikes parade.
At its first appearance in the city yesterday, the motorcade of more than 20 topless porn stars atop Harley-Davidsons roared from Post Office Square down a crowded Lambton Quay before the stars walked on to Parliament's grounds.
The largely male audience ranged from businessmen to gangs of wolf-whistling construction workers, mixed with curious mothers and smirking teenagers - all clicking away on their cameras in lines sometimes four-deep.
Lisa McRae, of Karori, had been in town with her three young children and went to see the spectacle begin at 12.45pm. Dylan, 4, sat in her arms pointing and saying, "Naked ladies, Mum."
"I'm not offended at all," Mrs McRae said. "Women's bodies are beautiful and I don't see why children can't join in the fun. Kids don't have any preconceived ideas, it's adults who tell them it's wrong. It's not hurting anybody."
IT specialist Chris Slade, 24, said: "It's great entertainment. No one's forced to be here. I think it's all in good taste."
As promotion of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo this weekend, it seems to have worked. "If this is a taste of the weekend to come I'll go along. We never get to explore this side of life in New Zealand, we're too modest," Mr Slade said.
The parade was barred from Parliament's grounds because it was seen as a commercial venture, but organiser Steve Crow said it was about "freedom of expression" and vowed to reach the steps.
Though the bikes were banned and a barrier kept the porn stars and their entourage a good 10 metres from the steps, they were allowed to walk up to the statue of Richard Seddon, surrounded by more than 100 shouting fans. American porn star Evan Stone walked up to "admire" the Parliament building before being escorted back by three security guards.
"I'm a tourist. Obviously anyone involved with the adult film industry isn't allowed to visit Parliament," he said.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast was unavailable for comment yesterday but a council spokesman said she found the parade "sleazy and really cynical", with little public support. Family First spokesman Bob McCoskrie said it was "an absolute disgrace" the parade had been allowed on Parliament's grounds. "Maybe the parliamentary security and police were blinded by the porn stars."
