Tens of thousands of people are
expected to flock to Auckland, New Zealand, tomorrow to watch topless women riding on motorbikes after a judge dismissed a council's attempt to ban the parade.
Judge Nicola Mathers threw out Auckland District Council's attempt to gain an
injunction to stop the Boobs on Bikes parade down Queen Street, saying it breached a new bylaw allowing the council to ban offensive parades.
But Judge Mathers said in Auckland District Court today that it was debatable whether the bylaw was
legal, and also debatable whether it met the legal threshold of offensiveness.
Parade organiser Steve Crow, who also organises the R18 Erotica Expo held in Auckland over the weekend, said the decision was a victory for common sense and freedom of
speech.
Judge Mathers noted that some people were deeply offended and considered the parade tactless and distasteful. But she said at least 80,000 people voted with their feet last year by attending the parade, suggesting they approved of the
parade and considered it harmless fun.
As police had advised that it was not an offence under the Summary Offences Act for a woman to go topless in public, Judge Mathers said it was hard to argue that the parade met the legal definition of
offensive.
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