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Wellington businesses are ambivalent about a Boobs on Bikes Parade in their city, saying it would do nothing to enhance its image as the country's arts and culture capital.
Porn king Steve Crow says a Wellington version of Auckland's controversial parade is planned for November in the lead-up
to the Erotica Lifestyles Expo.
Last week's event in Auckland attracted a lot of flak as Auckland City Council unsuccessfully went to the High Court in a bid to have the parade banned.
Bare chested women paraded on the back of motorcycles and tanks, attracting an estimated crowd of 80,000 while a group of about 50 protested the event.
But the idea of a similar Wellington event has received a lukewarm reception, according to a survey by the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce, which has about 1000 members. This was mainly because of the impact it would have on Wellington's image, rather than any disruptions to business.
While 87 per cent of Wellington CBD businesses members thought the proposed Boobs on Bikes event would have no effect on their business (4.3 per cent see it as good and 9.3 per cent see it as bad for business), 67 per cent thought it would be bad for Wellington's brand.
Nearly half (47 per cent) felt the parade should not happen, 24 per cent supported it while the rest were neutral.
Chamber chief executive Charles Finny said the survey confirmed the chamber's initial view. "We don't think that parade is going to enhance our image as the arts and cultural capital of New Zealand," he said.
"We don't want to make a big fuss over this event. It isn't the type of high quality event we want Wellington to be known for.
"Most of our 1000 or so members would probably be happier if the event did not proceed, but if it does we don't want the huge focus on it that was created by the controversy in Auckland this year.
"We suspect that many Auckland businesses likewise don't see the Auckland parade doing much for Auckland's brand either."
But the owner of Wellington's Eef-Jays Adult Shop in Cuba St, who only wanted to be known as Dennis, welcomed the idea of a parade and did not know why so many local businesses were not keen.
It would be the "essence of a forward thinking city" to go ahead with the parade, and he believed it would fit with Wellington's image, he said.
"It would fit Invercargill's if it was warm enough."
He said anything that brought money into the city at no cost to the ratepayer had to be good and there would be more positive publicity than negative.
- NZPA
