Fronting up on Boob St

Like moths to a flame, camera-toting men could not resist the sight of bare breasts in Queen St. Picture / Brett Phibbs

"I come from India, so obviously I'm quite excited," said 30-year-old Phani Chevandra as 20 pairs of boobs on bikes passed him in the centre of Auckland yesterday.

"This is my first time to see this type of parade. It's not at all legal in my country so it is through my curiosity that I am standing here."

Mr Chevandra was one of tens of thousands - possibly more than 100,000 people - who packed Queen St for the spectacle to promote this weekend's R18 Erotica show in the city.

Police had to clear a passage for the lead car, a hotted-up convertible Bentley with the number plate Evil.

It was carrying organiser Steve Crow, his cairn terrier-shih tzu Monsta and topless aide Jan Maree, yelling her amplified message: "If you like boobies, make it known".

Two Army tanks followed, one carrying two topless women, the other male porn star Evan Stone, and then a procession of 26 bikes from the Harley Owners' Group with topless women riding pillion.

The crowd, predominantly male but with a good smattering of women, clearly enjoyed the parade from Karangahape Rd to the bottom of Queen St that was supposed to last 20 minutes but took 65.

Every vantage point along the route was taken. People peered from office buildings and construction sites. One man climbed atop a bus shelter.

Many unionists skipped a rally against National's 90-day workers' probation bill to watch the parade, including three men standing on a ledge of the Town Hall brandishing MAPP OFF placards.

Julia Dowling, a 26-year-old city office worker, thought the parade was a bit of fun that had been taken too seriously by others.

Marinus Beukus came into town especially for the parade, bought a pint of beer at the Queens Ferry Tavern and positioned himself on a planter box to get a good view: "It's cool. I see nothing wrong with it. It's only women's breasts, they are not naked."

Mr Crow, whose Erotica Lifestyles Expo opens at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane tomorrow, said he encountered one protester holding up a sign saying "dirty, perverted something-or-other".

But he was pleased at the huge turnout, saying it sent a message that Aucklanders wanted fun and entertainment in the city.

"People were laughing. I have never seen so many cameras."

Scarlett Knight, 22, of Auckland and hailed as New Zealand's first international porn star, said people who oppoosed the parade needed to learn how to have fun.